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AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS: THE VIEWS OF CITY COUNCIL AND SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS
Author(s) -
Schumaker Paul,
Kelly Marisa
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
southeastern political review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1747-1346
pISSN - 0730-2177
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-1346.1998.tb00509.x
Subject(s) - affirmative action , disadvantaged , political science , economic justice , prestige , action (physics) , public administration , public relations , law , philosophy , linguistics , physics , quantum mechanics
This paper explores the attitudes regarding affirmative action of 112 members of city councils and school boards in twelve American cities. In‐depth interviews with these officials reveal widespread support for affirmative action policies generally and for more moderate approaches to affirmative action in particular. Our analysis suggests that more aggressive forms of affirmative action—establishing quotas in hiring and setasides when awarding contracts—are especially opposed by conservatives and those in high prestige occupations and by school board members who are wary of giving priority to social justice over securing highly qualified teachers. Our analysis also suggests that extensive support for more moderate forms of affirmative action—giving preference to qualified minority candidates, requiring minority participation by companies that do business with the city, training and mentoring persons from disadvantaged groups, and taking extraordinary steps to recruit blacks and women into public offices—is rooted in concerns about morality and justice.