Antidiscrimination Law

Antidiscrimination law is one way in which democratic societies attempt to combat the social, economic, and political manifestations of racism. Although France and the United States share a commitment to the value of equality codified in their respective constitutions, the two countries’ legal frameworks for combating discrimination reflect each country’s particular history of racism. Today, racial prejudice manifests itself in increasingly complex ways, from intentional acts of defamation to structural barriers to economic well-being.

The central challenge for antidiscrimination law in both France and the United States is adapting to the evolving and multifaceted nature of discrimination, as is discussed in this policy brief written by Julie Chi-hye Suk.