This paper briefly summarizes issues in affirmative action covered by the conference papers preceding it in the same volume. First, the definition of affirmative action adopted by the United Nations at an international convention in 1969 is reviewed. Based on this definition, the countries covered in the conference papers are classified as follows: (1) those that have affirmative action complying with the definition (Malaysia, India, Israel, and the United States); (2) countries with arrangements that do not exactly comply with the definition, but that are similar in purpose (Nigeria and Peru); (3) Yugoslavia, which as a federation of nations and nationalities has had affirmative action within a regional minority area; and (4) countries that have nothing which may be described as affirmative action (Sudan and West Germany). Groups targeted by the affirmative action policies in individual countries are then mentioned. Following this, areas in which the policies are applied (e.g., employment, education) are reviewed. Finally, the paper considers both justification for and objections to affirmation action and concludes that although the phenomenon often is necessary, it must be used carefully, and it does not reform an economically stratified society. (GC)