In Trump’s shadow: questioning and testing the boundaries of inclusion

• Date: 14 February 2018
• Published date: 14 February 2018
• Pages: 96-107
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1108/EDI-09-2017-0177
• Author: Bernardo M. Ferdman
• Subject Matter: HR & organizational behaviour,Employment law,Diversity, equality, inclusion

In Trump’s shadow: questioning

and testing the boundaries

of inclusion

Bernardo M. Ferdman

California School of Professional Psychology, Alliant International University,

San Diego, California, USA

Abstract

Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to explore the challenges and opportunities created for inclusion by

the election and installation of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the USA.

Design/methodology/approach –The paper uses the author’s personal and professional experience and

perspectives to raise and address questions about the limits of inclusion, alternative perspectives on inclusion,

and approaches for sustaining attention to and continuing to foster inclusion.

Findings –Although inclusion can be conceptualized in different ways, a nuanced and complex view that

incorporates limits to tolerance of behavior that undermines inclusion along with clear rules of engagement,

civility, and respect may be most useful and productive.

Originality/value –The paper applies a paradoxical perspective to understanding the implications of a

Trump administration for the practice of inclusion, including those particularly relevant for organizational

diversity and inclusion practitioners.

Keywords Paradox, Leadership, Inclusion, Politics, Diversity initiatives, Multicultural societies

Paper type Viewpoint

The election and installation of Donald J. Trump as President of the USA present a set of

unique challenges and opportunities to those of us –scholars and practitioners –who

specialize in, believe in, and would like to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion.

Mr Trump and many of his appointees, through their words and actions, have cast a long

shadow on diversity and inclusion (D&I) efforts, particularly those of the US federal

government, in many cases calling into question these initiatives and the principles that

undergird them (e.g. Colby and Larson, 2017; Peters et al., 2017). Yet, perhaps in reaction to

perceptions of the Trump administration as setting back previous societal advances in D&I,

we have simultaneously seen strong and vociferous support for continued efforts to

maintain and enhance those advances both in the country and across organizations of all

types (e.g. Colby and Larson, 2017; Olson, 2017; Yee, 2017; see also http://inclusioncoalition.

info and www.ceoaction.com).

A problematic shadow

During his campaign for the presidency, Mr Trump expressed a range of views, many of

which were understood as being demeaning of immigrants, racial minorities, Muslims,

women, and many other groups (e.g. Fausset et al., 2016; Fisher, 2017; Johnson and

Hauslohner, 2017). Both during the campaign and since then, many have seen Trump as

encouraging –or at least actively avoiding criticism of –white nationalists, neo-Nazis, the

so-called “alt-right,”and others in the USA who advocate exclusionary, xenophobic, and

extremist views and policies (e.g. Thrush and Haberman, 2017a, b). Mr Trump’s cabinet,

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion:

An International Journal

Vol. 37 No. 1, 2018

pp. 96-107

© Emerald PublishingLimited

2040-7149

DOI 10.1108/EDI-09-2017-0177

Received 9 September 2017

Revised 9 October 2017

Accepted 13 October 2017

The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:

www.emeraldinsight.com/2040-7149.htm

The author is grateful to Andrea Szulik, to two anonymous reviewers, and to Ed Ng for helpful

comments and suggestions that served to improve this article. Lynette Lively-Cookson provided

valuable support in locating news articles and other background material.

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EDI

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