Diversity and Community in the Academy:
Affirmative Action in Faculty Appointments

(from the back)
   In the wake of court rulings that have forced university administrators to reevaluate affirmative action policies, this balanced, thoughtful book examines three typical defenses of these policies: that affirmative action compensates for past discrimination; that it provides role models and ensures diversity; and that it corrects for systemic bias against women and racial minorities. While Wolf-Devine finds that none of these arguments justifies adopting affirmative action, she diverges from most opponents of the policy by arguing that some circumstances make affirmative action appropriate. Analyzing the cultural, economic, and political contexts in which affirmative action has been debated, she suggests ways to get around the current impasse over the issue without abandoning a commitment to social justice. The depth and balance of the book are enhanced by an appendix containing articles by noted legal expert George Rutherglen, distinguished philosopher James Rachels, and independent scholar Richard Rodriguez.

Table of Contents

Introduction
Chapter 1: Historical Introduction

I. From Civil Rights to Affirmative Action: 1964-1972 Background Laying the Foundations for Affirmative Action Underlying Causes of the Trend Toward Proportional Representation Adding Women: Linking Race and Sex

II. The Entrenchment of Bureaucracies: 1973-1980 Background The Regulatory Agencies and the Universities Affirmative Action in the Courts: Baake and Weber

III. The Reagan-Bush Years: 1980-1992 Economic Context Changes in Political Culture: The PC Wars The Courts The Changing Demographics of the Academy

IV. Where We Are Now Economic Context Cultural Conflict The Crisis in Education Affirmative Action and the Crisis in Education

Chapter 2: Compensatory Arguments

I. The Argument

II. Evaluation

III. Application to Other Groups Native Americans Hispanics and Asians Women

IV. Conclusion

V. Transition: A Cross-Temporal Argument

Chapter 3: Forward-Looking Arguments

I. Goods Internal to the University Role Models Mentors Diversity Internal Arguments: Summary

II. External Goods Beyond Fantasy Politics The Influence of Universities The Redistributive Argument Possible Bad Effects of Discontinuing Affirmative Action

III. Conclusion

Chapter 4: Corrective Arguments

I. The Postmodernist Argument

II. Bias Embedded Within the Traditional Disciplines Establishing the Existence of Bias Failure of the Androcentric Bias Argument to Justify Affirmative Action

III. Argument Based on Underrepresentation

IV Identifying Bias in Recent Appointment Patterns

V. Conclusion

Chapter 5: Conclusion

I. Remedies

II. Getting Around the Impasse The Politics of Displacement Defects in the Prevailing Social Paradigm The Shape of the New Paradigm

III. The Role of the University Developing a New Social Paradigm The Advancement of Knowledge Handing On Our Cultural Tradition Imparting Basic Skills Teaching the Art of Rational Dialogue Tutoring

IV. The Problem Redefined

Supplementary Essays

Affirmative Action in Faculty Appointments: A Guide for the Perplexed by George Rutherglen Are Quotas Sometimes Justified? By James Rachels “Minority Student” by Richard Rodriguez.

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