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Affirmative Action Around the World: An Empirical Study First Edition

by Thomas Sowell (Author)
4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 186 ratings
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This book moves the discussion of affirmative action beyond the United States to other countries that have had similar policies, often for a longer time than Americans have. It also moves the discussion beyond the theories, principles, and laws that have been so often debated to the actual empirical consequences of affirmative action in the United States and in India, Nigeria, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and other countries. Both common patterns and national differences are examined. Much of what emerges from a factual examination of these policies flatly contradicts much of what was expected and much of what has been claimed.
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  1. ISBN-10
    0300101996
  2. ISBN-13
    978-0300101997
  3. Edition
    First Edition
  4. Publisher
    Yale University Press
  5. Publication date
    March 10, 2004
  6. Language
    English
  7. Dimensions
    5.75 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches
  8. Print length
    256 pages
  9. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

Preferring members of specified groups in higher education, employment, receipt of government services, getting business contracts, and so on is a worldwide phenomenon whose effects are demonstrable. Black economist Sowell focuses on affirmative action in India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Nigeria, and the U.S. In those nations, preferences for minorities metamorphosed into preferences for majorities (e.g., women, when made affirmative-action candidates in the U.S., tipped the numbers of the preferred to more than half the populace), intergroup friction increased (Sri Lanka, once a model of ethnic cooperation, descended into civil war, as did Nigeria), "brain drain" occurred (in Malaysia, preferences for less-educated Malays led to massive Chinese emigration and the ouster of Chinese-dominated Singapore from the Malay federation), and/or something else bad happened. Most damning is that in all five countries, the upper crust of preferred groups reaped the lion's share of benefits. Affirmative action is never rejected, however, because it is evaluated "in terms of its rationales and goals rather than its actual consequences." Invaluable argumentation, more accessible than usual for Sowell. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

From the Back Cover

"Another brilliant, bracing achievement by Thomas Sowell. With characteristic lucidity, erudition, and depth, Sowell examines the true effects of affirmative action around the globe. This book is compelling, important, mind-opening."-Amy Chua, author of World on Fire: How Exporting Free Market Democracy Breeds Ethnic Hatred and Global Instability; "A masterpiece that deserves to be one of the most influential books of our time. Any honest reader will be informed and enlightened."-Donald Kagan, Yale University; "A gem of a book. A brilliant and learned analysis of the negative effects of racially preferential policies both in the United States and in several other countries around the world." - Stephan Thernstrom, Harvard University

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Yale University Press; First Edition (March 10, 2004)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0300101996
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0300101997
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 15.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.75 x 0.75 x 8.5 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars 186 ratings

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Thomas Sowell

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Customer reviews

4.8 out of 5 stars
4.8 out of 5
186 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Douglas Heinl
5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic
Reviewed in the United States on June 17, 2024
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I could not put this book down. Such a fascinating read with so much to say. I love that Sowell makes no attempt to appeal to the emotions to persuade; rather, he makes a solid, logical case for his ideas.
Definitely I recommend this book!
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BamaPrincess80
5.0 out of 5 stars Just What I Needed To Read
Reviewed in the United States on March 23, 2013
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Thomas Sowell was someone I had only heard of and after reading this book, I will buy more of his material. For years I have felt that Affirmative Action actually downplayed the achievement of blacks in America instead of lifting the community up and I am a black woman. I knew the title of this book meant that he would have studied other cultures but I hadn't imagined the bad blood such programs brewed in other countries over the same issue that I feel is ruining race relations here.

I want to share a quick story related to this book. In 2004 while on cruise (I was active duty in the Navy at the time), our ship arrived in Port Kelang, Malaysia, not too far from the capital of Kuala Lumpur. A bus took us sailors into the city and cabs were lined up calling for Americans to get into their taxi's despite a group of Al-Quada sympathizers threatening to attack Americans (that problem was taken care of). Me and few friends hop into the cab and the guy seemed so nice but suddenly he went into a racist rant about Chinese people. He also hinted that some cabs refused service to the Chinese. I was shocked. If people of Chinese heritage were born in Malaysia, was it lawful for this man or any other ethnic Malay to refuse service? After reading Thomas Sowell's book, I realize that affirmative action in that country may have played a part in it. I don't want this for our country.

While there are people who may feel that affirmative action was founded to address wrongs, it only uplifts one race over the other. We can do better than this. And let's be frank, no matter how many opportunities you give people, some people, regardless of race are their own worst enemy. Rising from poverty to become something better takes a tenacity and discipline and I should know. I grew up a poor black girl and the eldest of three in the state of Alabama. I now have a bachelor of arts in history that I received from the University of Washington and will start graduate school in the next few months. But my upbringing and the negative things that I have seen brought me to the conclusion that Mr. Sowell is right. Affirmative Action programs do not address past wrongs. The programs brings more headaches and animosity and should just go away.
68 people found this helpful
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MasterKefka
5.0 out of 5 stars A Powerful, Honest, and Thorough Study on Affirmative Action Around the World
Reviewed in the United States on November 21, 2015
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This is basically the culmination of a 30 year long study of Dr. Sowell's that covers affirmative action not only in the US, but also in various countries around the world, particularly India, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, and Nigeria. He analyzes very thoroughly the trends that occur with affirmative action, and backs up everything with hard data and a multitude of references. As with everything Dr. Sowell writes it is logically organized, well-thought-out, and very thorough. In short, he pulls affirmative action out of a world of claims and politics and places it into the realm of hard data, where it scrutinized and compared so that the real world effects can be seen both in general and in specific circumstances. As most works on this topic tend to be quite incomplete, narrow, and/or misleading, this honest and detailed examination is beyond excellent and should be read by anyone studying the topic or by anyone with an interest in general. I highly recommend it.
15 people found this helpful
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Irene
4.0 out of 5 stars I think there's an issue with the binding of the book.
Reviewed in the United States on October 20, 2023
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The media could not be loaded.
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TheWildBoy
5.0 out of 5 stars Everything by Mr. Sowell is gold
Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2022
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This is a great book.

Anyone who thinks they can make things better for others should first read this book and then think hard and deep about their plans to help others.

If you want to help others then start a business and hire those people that you want to help.
One person found this helpful
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Lord Gord
5.0 out of 5 stars Another Gem By Sowell
Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2018
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Sowell's my favorite author because his prose is direct and is logically sound. He takes you on a journey around the world showing you similar patterns of failure in terms of affirmative action. Not only are the rationales for such policies extremely similar around the world, the social turmoil and other adverse consequences are similar as well. Reading this book also gives one even greater appreciation for the U.S. Constitution as equal rights under the law is not written in the Nigerian constitution, for example. Read this book. It's succinct and its argument is sound.
10 people found this helpful
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Ted Bartelstone
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read in today's world of racial issues
Reviewed in the United States on July 25, 2021
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Another fact and evidence based analysis by Thomas Sowell, this time on affirmative action. It is particularly relevant today with renewed talk of reparations, another form of affirmative action. The analysis is worldwide and historical, demonstrating not just the theory but the actual results of affirmative action over many decades.
One person found this helpful
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Paul Marks
5.0 out of 5 stars The best work on racial, and other, preferences being written into law that I have seen.
Reviewed in the United States on March 1, 2015
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The best study of the subject of preferences being written into law that I have seen. The utter absurdity of telling people that they are not employing enough persons of the "correct" groups is shown. It is also shown that this is not just an American folly - it is a common, although perverse, practice around the world.

My only criticism is that, as an economist, Thomas Sowell does not really track this practice back to its Roman Law roots - i.e. the notion that because a business is "open to the public", it is a "public" concern, with "public" being twisted to mean "government". This legal reasoning undermines the very basis of private property and freedom of association (which must, logically, include the right not to associate).
7 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Joseph Myren
5.0 out of 5 stars AWESOME
Reviewed in Canada on October 2, 2023
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AWESOME
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars History Masterclass
Reviewed in Spain on January 11, 2023
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Data, not opinions, backing up History. As easy and important as it sounds. Because many books are based on wishful thinking and not empirism. It has changed my view on affirmative action from something good for the sake of it to something with great disadvantages and very few benefits. But don't believe me, just read the book and trust the facts. Crystal clear. Thanks Dr. Sowell. Superb History!
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MR IJ WILSON
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book, which is more relevant now than ever.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on July 12, 2020
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If you are interested in the logic around "Affirmative Action/Positive Discrimination", this book is a must read. It pulls no punches, and by using recorded data. Is able to show the negatives of this form of action. Couldn't point to any positives.
4 people found this helpful
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Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars A scholars impression of Thomas Sowell's book on Affirmative Action
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 10, 2015
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This is a very good book providing a general empirical overview and legal perspective of affirmative actions in different parts of the world.It is useful for scholars and general readers as well. The non-technical style of the book makes it highly accessible, while the scholarly content has not been compromised.
4 people found this helpful
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