There is a growing frustration from the general public towards the so called “richest 1%” who owns and benefits from big corporations that thrive under capitalism, often at the expense of the less wealthy. Alongside this frustration, there is also a growing narrative that holds these big companies largely responsible for the climate crisis. The latter, leaves the borader public with the sense that they (and not the companies) will bear the brunt of the consequences, creating a sense of impending doom or eco-anxiety. These feelings are only exacerbated when big companies launch “envrionmentally friendly initiatives” that seem to be mere marketing strategies, rather than genuine attempts to decouple their production from fossil fuels and intensive natural resource extraction. Despite this sense of hopelessness, consumers are starting to push back, and boycotting movements are gaining strength as a way for customers to exercise their purchasing power. I am interested in researching a future in which customers hold companies accountable for their ecological harm through sustained and strategic boycotts. Could said movements truly disrupt large-scale production and lead the way towards sustainable consumption?
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Great topic, I am interested!
I suggest, like the others, that you ground your question in the scientific literature more strongly. That might either answer your question, or lead to some open ends that you may decide to explore further. Maybe clarify for yourself: are you interested in specific pathways (or storylines) that outline how consumers may influence producers most efficiently, or are you looking for a more conceptual understanding of the ensuing dynamics?
The topic is indeed relevant. I agree with Simone and would strongly suggest to go even further: A contribution that describes the current scientific understanding of the role of boycott would be a solid contribution and provide a full answer to what is outlines in the title.
The role of boycott as a strategy in a social movement of consumers is a relevant and interesting topic for a poster on “Researching and Shaping Climate Futures”. This post already points to many interesting aspects related to this topic: different emotions that people as citizens and as consumers may have, economic strategies as one tool within the toolbox of climate activism, and the connection of climate action with broader question of social equality and social justice. Please make sure to ground all these aspects in the respective academic literature, and cite appropirate references.