This volume investigates the emergence of political meritocracy and the resulting implications for democratic representation and institutional legitimacy. The authors, Anchrit C. Wille and Mark Bovens, utilize extensive comparative data from European political systems to analyze how educational attainment has become a primary determinant for political office. They argue that the shift toward a credentialed political class creates a disconnect between governing elites and the broader electorate, potentially undermining democratic equality.

Experts in political science recognize this work as a significant contribution to the study of political inequality and elite recruitment. Readers frequently note the academic density of the prose, which is well-suited for scholars and students of contemporary governance.