This collection examines the case for affirmative action in the UK in relation to employment, higher education, the legal profession, the judiciary, political representation and minority language rights.

• Draws on experience of affirmative action in the United States, Canada and Germany.
  
• Contributions highlight the importance of how affirmative action is conceptualised and of context in evaluating the case for affirmative action.
  
• Emphasises the need for pragmatic judgments about the likely effectiveness and costs of affirmative action policies.