Affirmative Action as a Mechanism for Social Justice: Implications for Democratic Legitimacy, Representation, and Institutional Fairness Introduction Affirmative action represents one of the most contested and consequential mechanisms in the pursuit of social justice and equality within contemporary political systems. Conceptualized as a set of public policies and institutional practices designed to address historical injustices … Continue reading How does the principle of affirmative action function as a mechanism for social justice and equality, and what are its implications for democratic legitimacy, representation, and institutional fairness in contemporary political systems?