Jackson points out that social science have to abstain from value judgements. For him, political excellence is not free from it; he calls social science to step aside so as to widen the margin for politics. According to Jackson, this is the place where decisions have to be taken in society.

Democracy's mighty ideals are contrasted with the gross economical imbalance in the world. Policymakers are identified as key players, able to reproduce or change this societal order. The article tries to deconstruct the ideological work preventing policymakers from acting upon the discrepancies between the anaesthetized image of the system and its real effects. Feldman underscores the importance of a dialogue between social pundits and policymakers. 

From a development studies perspective, the author takes a different look on institutional arrangements. According to him, debates on Political Excellence should consider innovative interpretations from developing countries more strongly. Moreover, he takes in a critical perspective on management-driven international aid. For him, the central question is about power relationships between citizens and organisations.