The arch of empowerment might be a strike against justice tracing the institutional origins of inclusiveness through inequality

This paper examines the crisis of meritocracy within liberal governance, exposing its role in perpetuating inequality under the guise of fairness. Employing the ‘morphogenetic régulation’ analytical approach, it traces the institutional origins of inclusive governance through the tension between meritocracy and systemic privilege. The study contrasts two perspectives: (1) the orthodox view, rooted in rational choice institutionalism, which frames inequality as a technical issue solvable through market-driven reforms, as seen in World Bank policies, and (2) the heterodox perspective, informed by critical theorists, which views inequality as a product of relational power dynamics, demanding structural transformation. Analyzing World Bank reports and theories of oppression, the paper reveals how the inclusive governance, while aiming for equity, reformulates neoliberal logics, failing to address deeper systemic disparities. This analysis highlights the limits of both perspectives, advocating for a reimagined social justice that transcends neoliberal constraints to tackle global inequalities.