Navigating Inclusion During Times of Social and Political Fracture

Navigating Inclusion During Times of Social and Political Fracture

Linda Jacob-Sadeh
Hebrew University

In an era marked by heightened societal polarization, fuelled by an urgency to safeguard sacred values and ways of life, I argue that theories of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) must be revisited through the lens of mega-threats—societal-level events that receive broad media coverage and are experienced as threatening by employees from specific identity groups.
Drawing on empirical studies from critical race theory and research on DEI in contexts of protracted conflict, I develop a theoretical framework that explains how mega-threats reshape individuals’ experiences of inclusion and hinder organizational functioning.

I examine the common organizational response of adhering to the myth of neutrality, showing how it can undermine inclusion efforts, and I analyze how these dynamics vary based on individuals’ positions of power within the organization and in the broader societal context. I conclude by proposing alternative strategies for fostering inclusion amid social and political upheaval.