Tools to Overcome Structural Inequalities

Over time, many societies have come to the conclusion that mutually beneficial relationships can be forged with minorities using the ideas of reservations and quotas–which are problematic, but allow wider communities to enter into the forum when they otherwise wouldn't have. This chapter focuses on three examples. The first is from Singapore where, instead of a first-past-the-post system, various constituencies were grouped together so that candidates formed a team. In Lebanon, consociationalism was adopted to try to decrease tensions between Christians and Muslims in the country, with varying degrees of success. The third way that groups can move towards autonomy is self-determination or self-governance measures, like in the Millet System of the Ottoman Empire. Today, there are 194 countries; there were only 51 countries that signed the United Nations charter in 1945. These countries arose out of decolonization and self-determination. 

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