Equal employment, affirmative action and diversity

Abstract

This reflective short piece attempts to untangle the semantic confusion between Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO), Affirmative Action (AA) and Diversity – all trying to better the lot of minorities in public service. It also tries to take a brief look at the relative advantages and disadvantages of each, and points out future directions. It draws upon the experience of three countries: India, the most populous democracy with the longest and exhaustive experience with AA (known there as ‘‘reservations’’); the United States, the longest working democracy, where AA is very controversial; and the Republic of South Africa, whose experience is relatively nascent (Tummala, 1999).