Affirmative actions at the global level: debates, perspectives and challenges

Panel discussion with the special participation of

The meeting focused on the importance of affirmative action and inclusion policies in Brazil, Latin America and India, with discussions on the complexities of ethnic and caste systems, the need for a more inclusive education system and the challenges faced by marginalized communities. Participants also discussed the concept of affirmative action in Colombia, the need for a change in thinking and knowledge production to combat racism and the importance of building an alliance and transforming minds for the decolonization of the mind..

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Affirmative Action and Inclusion Policies

Dr. Santiago Arboleda, President of AINALC Santiago opens the dialogue and introduces special guest Professor José Carvaho. He also proposes the organization of a dialogue between Latin American and Indian scholars on affirmative action policies.
Professor Carvaho discussed the importance of affirmative action and inclusion policies in Brazil and Latin America, drawing parallels with India's quota system. He highlighted the work of Ambedkar, the architect of the Indian Constitution, and the challenges faced by Dalits in India. José also mentioned the ongoing struggle for representation in the Indian Parliament and the need for safeguards against racism. He emphasized the need for a holistic approach to inclusion, combining racial and ethnic inclusion with epistemic inclusion. The conversation continued with a discussion on the legacy of Mahatma Gandhi and his views on quotas. países: Brasil, India, Sudáfrica y Malasia.

Decolonizing knowledge and geopolitical change

Professor Carvaho discusses the complexities of caste and ethnic systems in India and South Africa, highlighting the need for affirmative action to address these issues. He also discusses the need to research and collect comparative data on affirmative action systems in these four countries: Brazil, India, South Africa and Malaysia.
Adán Pineda discussed the need for a change in thinking and knowledge production to combat the epidemic of racism. Santiago highlighted the importance of reframing the knowledge paradigm towards a conscious science, including technological solutions and scientific solutions. The group also discussed the need for geopolitical knowledge management, particularly in relation to the BRICS countries. José highlighted the importance of building an alliance and transforming minds to decolonize the mind. The group also discussed the need for a change in the center of the world, with the flags of colonial countries at the center, and the need to focus on decolonization. The importance of raising awareness and participation in Africa was also discussed, especially in regards to the BRICS and China.

Application of epistemic quotas in universities

The concept of epistemic quotas was discussed, which he believes should be implemented in universities to ensure a diverse representation of knowledge. He suggested that these quotas should be based on the epistemic diversity of the region, with more Afrocentric knowledge in the Southeast and more indigenous knowledge in the Northeast. Professor Carvaho also highlighted the importance of affirmative action and the need for quotas in research funding. He referred to the need for a model that guarantees the presence of Western, Afro and indigenous knowledge in universities. The conversation ended with a discussion on the need for quotas in research funding, with an emphasis on regional and gender representation.

Racism, caste and affirmative action

Professor Carvaho discussed the differences between ethnic racism and caste racism, using India as an example. He explained that caste-based systems, such as India's, are based on birth and social hierarchy, while ethnic systems are more about cultural differences. José also spoke of the challenges faced by the African-American community, particularly in relation to affirmative action and quotas. He mentioned that the United States has a numerical weakness in relation to Brazil, which has a larger population of marginalized groups. Jorge asked about the situation in Colombia and explained that while Law 70 was a step forward, it was not enough and the situation remained fragmented. He also shared his experiences with the Dalit community in India, highlighting their social rise and the challenges they still face. He suggested that a preference system could constitute a strategy to resolve these issues.

The geopolitical change: decolonizing knowledge

At the meeting, Adán Pineda discussed the need for a change in thinking and knowledge production to combat the epidemic of racism. Santiago highlighted the importance of reformulating the knowledge paradigm towards a conscious science, including technological solutions and scientific solutions. The group also discussed the need for geopolitical knowledge management, particularly in relation to the BRICS countries. José highlighted the importance of building an alliance and transforming minds to decolonize the mind. The group also discussed the need for a shift in the centre of the world, with the flags of colonial countries at the centre, and the need to focus on decolonisation. The discussion ended with a debate on the importance of raising awareness and participation in Africa, especially with regard to the BRICS and China.

Affirmative Action in Colombia Challenges

The meeting discussed the challenges and opportunities related to affirmative action in Colombia. Participants highlighted the contradiction between the Colombian government's affirmative action law and the country's constitution, which guarantees the right to cultural identity. They also discussed the lack of data on the black community in Colombia, which has made the implementation of affirmative action policies difficult. The conversation ended with a discussion on the potential for alliance between indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, despite their differences. Participants also expressed concern about the political orientation of the government's approach to affirmative action.