HCBE Faculty Articles

Affirmative action initiatives in education and employment: Its necessity then, now and in the future

ORCID

Bahaudin Mujtaba 0000-0003-1615-3100

Document Type

Article

Publication Title

Georgetown Journal of International Affairs

ISSN

2471-8831

Publication Date

Spring 3-1-2023

Abstract/Excerpt

Since its creation, affirmative action (AA) has been one of the most debated political issues in the United States and other nations such as South Africa. AA programs are, at times, seen as a tool of compensation for past discrimination toward women and particularly racial minorities. Many experts view it as an economic necessity since diverse employees can better forecast the needs of different communities. Nonetheless, some believe that AA is an obsolete and outdated practice that can lead to illegal discrimination based on race and gender. As such, it is useful to look at the rationale or purpose of AA and its impact on educational institutions and in the workplace in the U.S. and in South Africa—where its success has been celebrated—over the past four decades. AA must be about accessibility and equal access for all candidates in employment and educational opportunities, without any adverse impact on anyone, for it to be sustainable.

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1353/gia.2023.a897700

Volume

24

Issue

1

First Page

46

Last Page

54

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