Affirmative Action Rationales & Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis of the United States & India.

The concept, policies, and application of affirmative action continue to engage multiethnic countries around the world in debate. This paper compares the origins, evolution, and outcomes of affirmative action policies in the U.S. with those in India, looking specifically at rationales for affirmative action. Applying Tummala's (1999) four key justifications of Compensatory Justice, Distributive Justice, Social Utility, and Responsiveness to both American and Indian affirmative action programs, I assert that an overall difference in justifications has led to divergent outcomes in these countries. Specifically, I find that India's dependence on equality principles as the foundation for affirmative action has led to increasing social equality through these programs there, while equality has not been achieved and should not be expected in the U.S. where the primary justification for affirmative action rests on diversity. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]