Lessons from Affirmative action around the world

Abstract

Thomas Sowell's brilliant empirical study of affirmative action is a devastating condemnation of the corruption and political opportunism behind the introduction and implementation of affirmative action policies in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria and the United States. Its arguments, however, could be just as easily applied to South Africa and Zimbabwe, though these key areas are not included in the book. Nowhere has affirmative action succeeded in helping those it was designed to assist and everywhere it has led to a worsening in race relations. Sadly, its message is unlikely to be heeded by the South African government, which seems determined to ignore the lessons of the successful Asian tigers and to continue blaming its failings on past events.