Positive discrimination policies.

Authors

  • EGUZKI URTEAGA

Keywords:

affirmative action, public policies, models.

Abstract

The question of affirmative action is distinguished by its role in the public debate, over the years, in areas as diverse as gender equality, territorial cohesion, integration of immigrants or democratisation of education. Both in international law and in national legislations, affirmative action is the key instrument for reducing inequalities between different social groups. It tries to promote greater de facto equality or, at least, to guarantee that members of disadvantaged groups face truly equal opportunities. Insofar as it obeys a logical of offsetting differences in economic, social and cultural development, more than just treating people differently, it really means establishing preferential treatment. By definition, it is meant to disappear when its target groups have overcome their problem and caught up on the gap that had separated them from the rest of the society.

Published

2009-11-18

Issue

Section

RESEARCH NOTES