¿Se acerca el fin de las políticas de discriminación positiva en la educación superior? Lecciones internacionales y su relevancia para América Latina

Francesc Pedró

doi:10.35362/rie9917022

Authors

Francesc Pedró UNESCO IESALC https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5335-8100

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.35362/rie9917022

Keywords:

affirmative action, higher education, educational equity, compensatory programmes

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Abstract

The current state of affirmative action policies in higher education is examined, contrasting the expansive trend in Latin America with the recent setback in the United States following the 2023 Supreme Court decision on this issue. The analysis examines how the massification of higher education in Latin America has driven compensatory policies aimed at historically marginalised groups, including indigenous and Afro-descendant populations. A global overview of these policies is presented, highlighting experiences in India, South Africa and Europe, as well as specific cases in Brazil, Chile and Argentina. The empirical evidence reviewed extensively demonstrates the positive effects of affirmative action on minority access to and retention in higher education. All of this contributes to questioning the US decision to eliminate racial criteria in university admissions, arguing that race-neutral policies are insufficient to combat historical discrimination. It concludes that, despite the US precedent, affirmative action will likely persist in other countries due to favourable legal and political factors, although it will continue to face challenges resulting from global de-democratising trends.

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References

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How to Cite

Pedró, F. (2025). Is the end of affirmative action policies in higher education approaching? International lessons and their relevance for Latin America. Iberoamerican Journal of Education, 99(1), 55–66. https://doi.org/10.35362/rie9917022