How can egalitarian ideals can be put into action? This ground-breaking book sets out a new interdisciplinary model for equality studies. Integrating normative questions about the ideal of equality with empirical issues about the nature and causes of inequality, it develops a new framework for thinking about equality and inequality and applies it to a wide range of contemporary inequalities, including those based on class, gender, ethnicity, disability and sexual orientation. Drawing on an huge variety of sources, it proposes a coherent and far-reaching agenda of egalitarian change in the economy, politics, law, education and research practices. Finally, it sets out a new perspective on egalitarian social movements and explores innovative ideological and political strategies for achieving social change. It is an invaluable resource for both academics and activists.

'This book is testament to the unique role that the Equality Studies Centre at University College Dublin and these four authors have had in reinvigorating egalitarianism. Deeply thoughtful, coherent and above all accessible arguments reflect the authors' breadth of knowledge of international literature and their understanding of the realpolitic of social reform. The equality framework with its five dimensions integrates the rational and the emotional into a powerful eminently usable scaffold for politicians, policy-makers, academics and activists. This book confidently crosses the chasm between theory and action. It is a major achievement which deserves to be on the reading list of every politician, academic and activist concerned about social inequity and justice. ' - Professor Madeleine Arnot, Chair of Sociology of Education, Faculty of Education, University of Cambridge

'This is a truly extraordinary book, combining sophisticated philosophical discussion of the fundamental moral issues linked to equality with solid sociological analysis of existing institutions and how they work to generate inequality, and provocative political analysis of strategies to transform those institutions. Equality: From Theory to Action has insightful and original things to say on each of these themes. It provides a powerful framework for a new egalitarianism for the 21st century.' - Erik Olin Wright, Vilas Distinguished Professor of Sociology, University of Wisconsin Madison

'The main merit and purpose of this book is the integrated and systematic treatment of equality it provides. The background of the authors allows them to write with great authority on both theoretical and policy issues concerning equality, approaching them all from a single systematic vision of the nature and importance of equality. The book is astonishing in its scope.' - Jonathan Wolff
Professor and Head of Department of Philosophy, University College London

'This book is an excellent contribution to at least two literatures: political theories of equality and social movement theory. It is especially valuable for offering a sophisticated theoretical framework for analyzing a wide range of inequalities, and then applying it via detailed discussions of pressing practical problems. Given that it is a collaborative effort, the authors deserve credit for producing a text that is seamless and accessible...This book makes a significant contribution to the field and is a positive sign of things to come from the equality studies discipline.' - Faith Armitage, Feminist Review

'This is a well-researched text, which benefits from international a well as local examples of equality and inequality. The book is grounded in Irish examples that help to illuminate the various viewpoints, reflecting the authors' experiences of living and working in Ireland...This book represents one small step on the road to a greater equality.' - Pedagogy, Culture and Society

'The book provides a thorough examination of the politics and theory of equality and should be read by academics, equality lawyers, students, activists and anyone who desires a more equal world.' - Harriet Samuels, Feminist Legal Studies

Preface
PART I: THE NEW EQUALITY AGENDA
New Challenges to an Unequal World
Dimensions of Equality: A Framework for Theory and Action
The Centrality of Equality: Equality and Other Values
Contexts of Egalitarian Change: Social Systems and Social Groups
PART II: PUTTING EQUALITY INTO PRACTICE
Towards Economic Equality
The Challenge of Participatory Democracy
Equality, the Legal System and Employment Law
Equality and Education
Emancipatory Research as a Tool of Change
PART III: STRATEGIES FOR CHANGE
Class, Gender and the Equality Movement
Ideology and Resistance
Strategic Issues for the Equality Movement
Notes
Bibliography

JOHN BAKER is a Senior Lecturer in Equality Studies at University College Dublin and is one of the founding members of the Equality Studies Centre. He is the author of Arguing for Equality (1987). His main areas of research are theoretical issues of equality and democracy.

KATHLEEN LYNCH is Professor of Equality Studies and was one of the founding members of the Equality Studies Centre. She is the author of The Hidden Curriculum (1989) and Equality in Education (1999) and co-author of Schools and Society in Ireland (1993), Equality and Power in Schools: Redistribution, Recognition and Representation (2002) and Inside Classrooms: The Teaching and Learning of Mathematics in Social Context (2002). Her main areas of research are equality in education, emancipatory research, the role of the university in social change and theoretical issues in equality studies.

SARA CANTILLON is a senior lecturer in Equality Studies at University College Dublin and a full-time member of the Equality Studies Centre. She is the co-editor of Rich and Poor: Perspectives on Tackling Inequality in Ireland (2001). Her main areas of research are gender and poverty, intra-household resource allocation and the economics of inequality.

JUDY WALSH is a lecturer in Equality Studies at University College Dublin and a full-time member of the Equality Studies Centre. She is the co-author of a number of NGO reports in the field of equality and human rights. Her main areas of research are human rights and gender, poverty and law. The authors have also been active in a wide range of equality-related organizations and campaigns.