Social Science Research Council

This cross-regional project is being developed in partnership with Princeton University, encompassing research on India, Brazil, South Africa and the United States. The project explores the utility of different methodologies for measuring discrimination, and of competing policy approaches, particularly affirmative action, for mitigating inequalities based on categories of race, religion, caste, and so on. It aims both to stimulate comparative research and to diffuse information about the kinds of policy initiatives that may contribute to reducing discrimination and its impact.

In partnership with the Department of Sociology at the University of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the SSRC/Princeton University project convened a workshop on May 24-25, 2006 as part of a multi-site project comparing patterns of discrimination and efforts to ameliorate them in different settings. Participants presented research documenting the nature and extent of discrimination in education and labor markets, primarily in Brazil but also with comparisons to the U.S., India and South Africa. In partnership with the Department of Sociology at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, a follow-up meeting was held on 6-7 September, 2006 at the University of Cape Town in order to delve more deeply into these issues in the South African context.

In the spring of 2007, a larger conference at Princeton will assemble participants from India and the U.S., as well as from South Africa and Brazil to discuss and disseminate the findings of the project, and develop future comparative and collaborative research agendas. Staff at the Council will continue their work with Princeton-based researchers to seek extra-mural funds to support an ongoing series of summer institutes and cross-regional workshops aimed at promoting fruitful comparisons and upgrading the skills of junior researchers and advocacy workers concerned with issues of discrimination.