This book offers a comprehensive, in-depth examination of the ethical dimensions of affirmative action policies and distributive justice, and their far-reaching implications for achieving social equity within global higher education systems. Affirmative action, while often debated, plays a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of education, especially in addressing systemic inequalities faced by marginalized communities and underrepresented groups, particularly women. Through a philosophical inquiry into justice, fairness and equality, this work critically interrogates the moral grounds upon which affirmative action policies are based, assessing whether these policies can genuinely deliver equitable outcomes or if they perpetuate new forms of injustice. The book will appeal to academics, students and practitioners of higher education, philosophy, ethics, gender studies and social justice.

Sooraj Kumar Maurya is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Zakir Hussain Delhi College (Evening), University of Delhi, India.