Foreword; Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva Affirmative Action: Foundations, Contexts, and Debates; G.Brown , A.Langer & F.Stewart Affirmative Action and its Alternatives in Public Universities: What Do We Know?; M.C.Long The Challenge of Positive Discrimination in India; J.Heyer & N.G.Jayal Affirmative action in South Africa: an Empirical Assessment of the Impact on Labour Market Outcomes; R.Burger & R.Jafta The Persistence of Black-white Income Differentials in Brazil; R.G.Osorio Affirmative Action in Malaysia: An Overview of Progress and Limitations; Z.A.Yusof Ethnicity and Inequality in Malaysia: A Retrospect and a Rethinking; M.Mohamad Beyond Inequality? Assessing the Impact of Fair Employment, Affirmative Action and Equality Measures on Conflict in Northern Ireland; J.Todd & J.Ruane How Effective is the Federal Character Commission in Nigeria?; A.R.Mustapha