Diversity and Organizations - Debates from Transnational, National or Regional Perspectives

Programs and measures on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) developed within and by organizations are currently under significant social, political, legal, and financial pressure, even in world regions where they were once initiated or developed. Emotionally charged debates discuss whether DEI is fair, still up to date, and overall effective – or whether they are, in general, unjust, costly, and ineffective. At the same time, in other regions and across transnational entanglements, DEI becomes increasingly institutionalized and accepted in organizations after a period of neglect and resistance. The broader societal, political, and organizational contexts shape debates on DEI across countries, regions, and organizational types.
Against this background, the call addresses the following questions, without being limited to them, and welcomes other related questions and perspectives:What forms of contestation around DEI measures can currently be observed, and why? How and why do DEI debates differ across organizational and societal contexts? How and why do organizations legitimize, challenge, modify, or roll back DEI programs and measures? What consequences does this have for organizations, their employees, and institutional environments? Are there counter-movements and organizations that, precisely because of increasing pressure, are investing even more strongly in DEI? What implications does the pressure on DEI have, or can it have, for the future development of DEI?In line with these and related questions, we invite empirical and theoretical contributions addressing contestations of DEI in turbulent times. Submissions from different regional, national, and transnational contexts, and studies that draw on diverse organizational theories, are welcome.