Political meritocracy, rooted in Confucian culture and Chinese practice, advocates for the selection and appointment of individuals who possess both moral integrity and competence, along with endurance, to serve as political leaders. It aspires to develop a unique model of vertical democratic merit-based governance. This idea has garnered global scholarly attention but has also faced substantial criticism. The criticisms mainly center on two aspects: first, the biases in the conceptual construction of political meritocracy and the errors in its comparative objects; second, questions regarding democratic legitimacy, institutional realization, and cultural adaptability. In response, it is necessary to re-examine the concept of political meritocracy and, on this basis, clarify the sources of its legitimacy, institutional practical arrangements, and the realization of cultural adaptability. Contemporary Singapore has successfully achieved a harmonious integration of political meritocracy and democratic politics in the aforementioned three aspects, further substantiating the possibility of political meritocracy.

political meritocracy, democratic legitimacy, institutional practice, cultural adaptability, governance