Affirmative Action in Plural Societies: International Experiences

"Global contributors discuss the theoretical controversies concerning the merits and demerits of affirmative action, and explain why affirmative action is needed in multi-ethnic countries. They analyze actual experience with affirmative action policies -their origin, nature and consequences - in nine countries"--



Across the developmental spectrum, the prospects and problems of 'affirmative action' are increasingly important issues facing multi-ethnic countries. Drawing on philosophy, economics and sociology, the contributors explore the merits and demerits of affirmative action, and explain why affirmative action may be needed in countries facing large inequalities across ethnic, religious or racial groups. They analyse the origin, nature and consequences of affirmative action in Brazil, South Africa, the United States, Malaysia, Northern Ireland and Nigeria. Evaluating alternatives, they seek to provide guidance on the design of policies in different circumstances, with the aim of reducing horizontal inequalities, while minimising possible negative consequences.

'This important book shows that affirmative action is necessary to offset centuries-old discrimination in some situations. The question we should be asking is not 'Does it work?' but rather 'How can we make it work better?' From this perspective the wide variety of policies and experiences from around the world presented here is of benefit to academics and policymakers alike, because it allows us to explore and understand the potential impacts of different policies. Understanding what has worked better, but also what has gone wrong, in different contexts, will allow policymakers to design better policies for the future of their own countries. By taking an even-handed and wide-ranging perspective, this book makes an important contribution to the task of combating horizontal inequalities and social injustice.' - Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Former President of Brazil

List of Figures		viii
List of Tables		ix
Foreword		xi
Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva
Preface		xiii
Acknowledgements		xiv
Notes on Contributors		xv
1 Affirmative Action: Foundations, Contexts, and Debates		1	(29)
Graham K. Brown
Arnim Langer
Frances Stewart
1.1 Introduction		1	(2)
1.2 Why horizontal inequalities matter and why they are so persistent		3	(3)
1.3 Clearing the analytical ground		6	(9)
1.4 Overview of the book		15	(8)
1.5 Conclusions about affirmative action policies in the light of these empirical findings		23	(7)
2 Affirmative Action and Its Alternatives in Public Universities: What Do We Know?		30	(24)
Mark C. Long
2.1 Introduction		30	(1)
2.2 Context and brief history of affirmative action in admissions		30	(5)
2.3 What do we know about the prevalence and effects of affirmative action?		35	(2)
2.4 State and university responses to court challenges and voter referenda		37	(3)
2.5 Effects of state and university responses on minority enrollment		40	(6)
2.6 Research on the effects of alternative admissions and recruitment systems		46	(5)
2.7 Conclusion: how should research findings shape future administrative choices?		51	(3)
3 The Challenge of Positive Discrimination in India		54	(26)
Judith Heyer
Niraja Gopal Jayal
3.1 Introduction		54	(2)
3.2 Group disadvantage		56	(2)
3.3 PD policies since 1950		58	(2)
3.4 India's current PD programmes and policies		60	(5)
3.5 Political outcomes		65	(3)
3.6 Economic outcomes		68	(6)
3.7 The challenges of positive discrimination today		74	(6)
4 Affirmative Action in South Africa: An Empirical Assessment of the Impact on Labour Market Outcomes		80	(20)
Rulof Burger
Rachel Jafta
4.1 Introduction		80	(1)
4.2 Affirmative action in South Africa: a brief historical overview		80	(2)
4.3 The institutional and legislative setting for affirmative action policies in South Africa		82	(4)
4.4 Empirical analysis of the impact of affirmative action on labour market outcomes		86	(12)
4.5 Conclusion		98	(2)
5 The Persistence of Black-White Income Differentials in Brazil		100	(28)
Rafael Guerreiro Osorio
5.1 Introduction		100	(1)
5.2 Income mobility in Brazil		101	(1)
5.3 Data and methods		102	(9)
5.4 Results		111	(8)
5.5 Can affirmative actions reduce racial inequality?		119	(7)
5.6 Some conclusions		126	(2)
6 Affirmative Action in Malaysia: An Overview of Progress and Limitations		128	(23)
Zainal Aznam Yusof
6.1 Introduction		128	(2)
6.2 Inequality, poverty and restructuring of society		130	(1)
6.3 Affirmative action policies		131	(5)
6.4 Poverty restructuring and inequality - progress		136	(7)
6.5 Affirmative action - some limitations		143	(6)
6.6 Some conclusions		149	(2)
7 Ethnicity and Inequality in Malaysia: A Retrospect and a Rethinking		151	(31)
Maznah Mohamad
7.1 Introduction		151	(2)
7.2 Summary of positions and debates		153	(5)
7.3 Quelling conflict beyond the state		158	(10)
7.4 Further analysis of the NEP		168	(6)
7.5 New issues and new inequalities		174	(4)
7.6 Conclusions		178	(4)
8 Beyond Inequality? Assessing the Impact of Fair Employment, Affirmative Action and Equality Measures on Conflict in Northern Ireland		182	(27)
Jennifer Todd
Joseph Ruane
8.1 Introduction		182	(1)
8.2 Theoretical issues		183	(2)
8.3 Origins, depth and reproduction of communal inequality		185	(5)
8.4 A changing economic culture and politics, 1968-2001		190	(8)
8.5 Economic inequality, 1971-2001		198	(1)
8.6 The impact of fair employment legislation on relative economic condition		199	(4)
8.7 The impact of fair employment and equality legislation on conflict		203	(6)
9 Institutionalising Ethnic Representation: How Effective Is the Federal Character Commission in Nigeria?		209	(33)
Abdul Raufu Mustapha
9.1 Why do societies like Nigeria need affirmative action and build institutions to carry it out?		209	(10)
9.2 Federal Character Commission as an institution: legal powers, structures and method of operation		219	(11)
9.3 An evaluation of the FCC		230	(7)
9.4 Conclusion: policy implications		237	(5)
Bbliography		242	(29)
Index		271

GRAHAM K. BROWN is Director of the Centre for Development Studies and Senior Lecturer in International Development at the University of Bath, UK. He is a Research Associate at Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford, and has held visiting fellowships at Stanford University and the National University of Singapore. His research focuses on the nexus of inequality, identity and conflict with an empirical focus on Southeast Asia. ARNIM LANGER is Director of the Centre for Research on Peace and Development (CRPD) and University Lecturer in International Relations at the University of Leuven, Belgium. He is also a visiting research fellow at the Centre for Development Studies at the University of Bath and a research associate at Oxford Department of International Development, University of Oxford, both in the UK. He has published extensively on the relationship between horizontal inequalities and violent conflict, the persistence of group inequalities and on issues of post-conflict reconstruction. FRANCES STEWART is Emeritus Professor of Development Economics and Director of the Centre for Research on Inequality, Human Security and Ethnicity (CRISE) at the University of Oxford, UK. Books include UNICEF's influential study Adjustment with a Human Face (1987); War and Underdevelopment (2001); and Horizontal Inequalities and Conflict: Understanding Group Violence in Multiethnic Societies (2008).