By: Lauryn Carr
Is there more to your home-brewed coffee than just convenience? How are small consumer choices impacting people internationally?
Boycotts, a non-violent form of protest, have been influential in shaping political, social and economic landscapes. In recent years, the Palestinians, and people in support, have seen the resurgence of boycotts as a strategy in the struggle for rights and recognition.
The use of boycotts as a strategic tool in global conflicts has a storied history. According to Forbes, several historical examples where boycotts were effective in bringing about change, such as the Anti-Apartheid Movement, the Montgomery Bus Boycotts, the Bristol Bus Boycott, and the Delano Grape Strike. The Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement against Israeli policies is another example.
Yakov Bart, an associate professor of marketing at Northeastern University states that when the brands are more easily replaceable, they are more vulnerable to a consumer boycott. He used examples such as Target, resulting in a sales decline because the grocery store exists in markets that are saturated with options, Bart says. In context to the current boycott against companies like Amazon, its global reach and how many people use it for the convenience of online shopping, places an obstacle in the way of boycotting.
https://www.laloyolan.com/news/students-hold-demonstration-to-boycott-starbucks-in-solidarity-with-palestine/article_422f74b0-3334-53e9-8f28-1c0eb8be2d25.html
Photo by: Kelsey Sha | Loyolan
Regarding Palestine, boycotts have seen mixed successes. Campaigns like BDS, a nonviolent Palestinian-led movement promoting boycotts against Israeli support, has influenced policy changes and raised global awareness. Some companies that are being boycotted for having ties with Israel include Starbucks, McDonalds, and Amazon, as a study from Vox showed that Starbucks’ share price has seen a decline since mid-November, falling by about 9 percent, meaning a decline of some $11 billion in its market cap.
A quote from Relief Web, specifically from reports coming from Palestinians says how “there is simply not enough food," UNRWA tweeted on social platform X, formerly Twitter, with photographs from another city slightly further north, Deir-al-Balah, showing people queuing "in the rain and cold" for relief supplies.” Newsweek 90 reports that the boycott against McDonald's began after Israeli franchises offered free meals to Israeli Defense Force soldiers. In response, McDonald's Malaysia announced a donation of 1 million Malaysian ringgits ($216,000) to a Palestinian humanitarian fund, as they stated how their contribution to the Palestine Humanitarian Fund will directly support relief efforts in Gaza, including medical aid, food, and shelter, as well as evacuation assistance if deemed necessary by the relief organizations.
https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/12/05/do-starbucks-mcdonalds-boycotts-work/
Photo by: AFP via Getty Images
Despite their success, boycotts face ethical and moral debates, including concerns over freedom of speech and potential collateral damage. Starbucks' lawsuit against a union, as mentioned by Vox, highlights the tensions that can arise from these campaigns. Additionally, international responses to boycotts are varied, reflecting differing perspectives on their legitimacy and impact.
The boycotts that begun in assistance to Palestinians have had a huge role in shaping future conflict resolutions and influencing international relations. Forbes aptly states that no action is too small, and every move can create a ripple effect, leading to societal shifts. Boycotts emerge not just as an economic tool, but as a symbol of resistance and a call for change.
Sites:
https://www.vox.com/money/2023/12/13/23999981/starbucks-boycott-israel-
palestine-market-value-loss-holidays-labor
https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/hostilities-gaza-strip-and-israel-flash-update-104#:~:text=Between%207%20October%202023%20and,was%20reportedly%20killed%20in%20Gaza.
https://www.newsweek.com/israel-hamas-mcdonalds-gaza-boycotts-1858026
https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/12/05/do-starbucks-mcdonalds-boycotts-work/
https://www.forbes.com/sites/janicegassam/2023/12/22/do-boycotts-actually-work-examining-the-use-of-boycotts-to-drive-social-change/?sh=20c56ed7bbb5
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