Abstract
The paper discusses quotas as a matter of fact and a matter of principle (of social justice). The first path of analysis departs from theoretical findings about the modernization of Western societies to arrive at the insight that quotas are an empirical fact of life in modern capitalist societies and thus indispensable to the functioning of modern meritocracy. This insight is followed by a second step of argument concerned with normative justifications of quotas for the disadvantaged and discussing the normative promise of quota policies in relation to their practical effects on recruitment practices, structures and norms, and on the meritocratic allocation of social positions. The final part of analysis tackles the justifiability of quotas as a means to foster the social inclusion and political representation of youth.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
In many arguments against quotas for the disadvantaged the rejection is pointed not so much against quotas as such but against the fact that they are benefiting the disadvantaged.
- 2.
For an overview on theories and dimensions of Western modernization as a process of multiple structural and cultural social transformation since the eighteenth century see Rosa 2005, 71Â ff.; 105Â ff.
- 3.
‘The self-esteem of whites as a group is not endangered by such a practice, since the situation arises only because of their general social dominance, and the aim of the practice is only to benefit blacks, and not to exclude whites. Moreover, although the interests of some are being sacrificed to further the interests of others, it is the better placed who are being sacrificed and the worst placed who are being helped’ (Nagel 1973, p. 361).
- 4.
Thomas Nagel formulates this popular objection against quotas as follows: ‘The question is: If a black person or a woman is admitted to a law school or medical school, or appointed to a certain academic or administrative post, in preference to a white man who is in other respects better qualified, and if this is done in pursuit of a preferential policy or to fill a quota, is it unjust’ (Nagel 1973, p. 348).
- 5.
I cite ‘white heterosexual men’ as a summative term exemplifying the hold on social privilege. Even if the combination of white skin-colour, heterosexuality and masculinity is not the only one endowing social privilege, it is the one that is more often than not associated with privileged social standing in various socio-cultural contexts and at different historical times.
- 6.
Experiments with anonymous applications have repeatedly confirmed the fact that where the name, sex, age, looks and origin of candidates remain hidden, members of discriminated-against groups score much better than when the grounds to discriminate against them are laid open (Castel 2009, p. 42, 108). Such experiments demonstrate time and again how strong the impact of factors of structural discrimination can be, long before any direct encounter between the parties involved.
References
Castel, R. (2009). Negative Diskriminierung. Jugendrevolten in den Pariser Banlieues. Hamburg: Hamburger Edition.
Dubet, F. (2008). Ungerechtigkeiten. Zum subjektiven Ungerechtigkeitsempfinden am Arbeitsplatz. Hamburg: Hamburger Edition.
Dworkin, R. (1997). The DeFunis case: The right to go to law school. In F. J. Beckwith & T. E. Jones (Eds.), Affirmative action. Social justice or reverse discrimination? (pp. 70–90). New York: Prometheus Books.
Goldberg, T. D. (2002). Racist culture. Philosophy and the politics of meaning. Oxford: Blackwell.
Honneth, A. (2010). Das Gewebe der Gerechtigkeit. Über die Grenzen des zeitgenössischen Prozeduralismus. In A. Honneth (Ed.), Das Ich in Wir. Studien zur Anerkennungstheorie (pp. 51–78). Frankfurt a. M.: Suhrkamp.
Kaloianov, R. (2008). Affirmative Action für MigrantInnen? Am Beispiel Österreichs. Braumüller. Wien: Baumüller.
Miller, D. (2008). Grundsätze sozialer Gerechtigkeit. Frankfurt a. M.: Campus.
Nagel, T. (1973). Equal treatment and compensatory discrimination. In Philosophy and public affairs, vol. 2, no. 4. (Summer, 1973), pp. 348–363.
Pojman, L. P. (1997). The moral status of affirmative action. In F. J. Beckwith & T. E. Jones (Eds.), Affirmative action. Social justice or reverse discrimination? (pp. 175–197). New York: Prometheus Books.
Rosa, H. (2005). Beschleunigung. Die Veränderung der Zeitstrukturen in der Moderne. Frankfurt a. M.: Suhrkamp.
Rössler, B. (1993). Quotierung und Gerechtigkeit. Eine moralphilosophische Kontroverse. Frankfurt a. M.: Campus.
Rössler, B. (2012). Frauen verzweifelt gesucht? Über Quoten und Gerechtigkeit. Merkur, 66(5), 371–381.
Schneider, J., & Yemane, R. (2014). Ethnische Diskriminierung-Störfaktor im Integrationsprozess. Aus Politik und Zeitgeschichte, 64(13–14), 15–21.
Skretny, D. J. (Ed.). (2001). Color Lines. Affirmative action, immigration and civil rights options for America. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
Walzer, M. (1994). Sphären der Gerechtigkeit. Ein Plädoyer für Pluralität und Gleichheit. Frankfurt a. M.: Campus.
Young, M. I. (1990). Justice and the politics of difference. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kaloianov, R. (2015). What Do Quotas Do? Reflections on the Ubiquity and Justice of Quotas. In: Tremmel, J., Mason, A., Godli, P., Dimitrijoski, I. (eds) Youth Quotas and other Efficient Forms of Youth Participation in Ageing Societies. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13431-4_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-13431-4_2
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-13430-7
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-13431-4
eBook Packages: Humanities, Social Sciences and LawSocial Sciences (R0)