Secularchy: suppressing the sacred in international business

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore and critically examine the integration of religious perspectives in diversity and inclusion (D&I) initiatives in the context of international business (IB). Design/methodology/approach This qualitative study used a case study methodology, focusing on an international consulting firm, inspired by Islamic Sufism, and their clients in South Africa and Pakistan. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with consultants and clients from 25 organizations, participant observations during training sessions, and document analysis. Thematic analysis was used to identify and analyse patterns in the data. Findings The study revealed that religious ideas and individuals are marginalized in the global business environment through a phenomenon termed “secularchy”. Consultants from the Islamic Sufi-inspired firm had to detach religious elements from their management model to gain acceptance in secular corporate settings. Participants reported that religious perspectives were systematically excluded and those expressing religious viewpoints faced significant barriers. The findings emphasize the need for more inclusive D&I practices that genuinely integrate religious diversity into organizational cultures. Originality/value This study introduces the concept of “secularchy” to describe the systemic marginalization of religious perspectives in IB, a novel contribution to the D&I literature. The authors challenge the dominant secular paradigm in global business, advocating for more equitable and inclusive integration of religious diversity in organizational practices.