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.

Aileen McHarg is Senior Lecturer in Public Law at The University of Glasgow.

Donald Nicolson is a Professor at the Law School at the University of Strathclyde.