Affirmative action policies in France

Abstract

Affirmative action policies consist on legally creating some inequalities to favour real equality. However, when the principle of non-discrimination is established, it may seem paradoxical to use these policies in order to achieve real equality, thus «giving more to those who have less». This suggest several questions: What are the foundations of affirmative action? Under what conditions is it acceptable? What are its forms and ways of application? What are its results? The French case is interesting in those respects. The article defends the hypothesis that, although affirmative action strongly collides with the republican principle of equality among citizens, in practice the government not only tolerates its use, but encourages it in the areas of employment, gender parity in the public sphere, and territorial planning.