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The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity pp 1–13Cite as

Palgrave Macmillan

Affirmative Action: Its Nature and Dynamics

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Abstract

The incidence of affirmative action policies has occurred most frequently in internally heterogeneous states marked by deep ethno-cultural divisions and in which one of the ethno-cultural communities tended to dominate the rest. The response has led to the adoption of affirmative action programs to rectify old wrongs and eradicate injustices and extend benefits and provide special preferences toward establishing a new, just, and equal society. Alternative views of equality and justice undergird much of the controversy over affirmative action. Justice and equality are commonly shared calls evoked by both proponents and opponents of affirmative action. However, there are no universal and generally accepted set of values which define justice and equality. Lacking commensurability, rival meanings are almost always caught up in contentious struggles over power and resources in affirmative action programs.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of the West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago

    Ralph Premdas

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  1. Ralph Premdas
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Correspondence to Ralph Premdas .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Dept of Socio & Anthro, Rm 309, Univ of Canterbury Dept of Socio & Anthro, Rm 309, Christchurch, New Zealand

    Steven Ratuva

Section Editor information

  1. No affiliation provided

    Radomir Compel

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Premdas, R. (2019). Affirmative Action: Its Nature and Dynamics. In: Ratuva, S. (eds) The Palgrave Handbook of Ethnicity. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0242-8_141-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-0242-8_141-1

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  • Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-13-0242-8

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-13-0242-8

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