He’s been called a ‘moral rock star’ in the US, and in the UK is known for his Reith Lectures and soothing tones on Radio 4. The political philosopher talks about the failure of meritocracy and globalisation – and why it led to the ‘fateful mistake’ of the election of Donald Trump

For any Radio 4 regular, Michael Sandel is as familiar a voice from America as once was Alistair Cooke: calm, analytical but at the same time soothing, with just a hint of a smile about it. He has been the station’s occasional on-air “Public Philosopher” and subsequently “Global Philosopher” for much of the past decade, as well as delivering its 2009 Reith Lectures on “a new citizenship”. But seeing the face behind the voice is a minor revelation. The professor of government theory at Harvard Law School has, I can’t help thinking as we talk, something of the monk about him.

It is to do in part with his eyes – big, expressive and emanating a gentle goodness – but mostly it is his demeanour as he tackles hard truths. He is patient, preternaturally still, gazing at his hands, folded in his lap whenever I am speaking, but looking straight at me down the lens of his laptop as he talks. It is as if convincing me of his argument is the most important thing in his world. I find myself beginning to wish he had taught me at university. I might have felt encouraged to concentrate more.