Does Affirmative Action Work?

AFFIRMATIVE action programs; SOCIAL policy; DALITS; BLACK South Africans; AFFIRMATIVE action programs in education; RACE preferences (Affirmative action); EMPLOYMENT of minorities; ETHNIC relations; ECONOMIC history

INDIA; MALAYSIA

The article discusses the effectiveness of affirmative action programs, focusing particularly of those implemented in India, Malaysia, and South Africa. Since 1950 in India, both tribal members and Dalits, members of the untouchable caste, have been targeted for educational and employment programs. In post colonial Malaysia, the New Economic Policy was enacted to bolster access to wealth and prosperity among the indigenous populations known as bumiputra. In post-apartheid South Africa, programs were enacted to promote black-owned businesses. A comparative analysis of the relative success and failures of these programs is presented.