Why Progressvism Has Failed

[al Roumi]

I think you are confusing the theory with the practice. It was not a level playing field and connections were as important then as they are now. A peasant son might have made it, but with a father on the politburo you'd be guaranteed a place wherever you wanted.

In the latter half of the 20th century, perhaps, but you'd need to convince me that it was always (i.e. early on/up to 1940s) that way.

And in any case, the system did not require the student to fund their own studies - so ability, not background, did count for more.