bojkott

Bojkott is a form of protest in which a group abstains from buying or using goods, services, or relations with a target—such as a company, organization, or country—to pressure it to change policies or practices. The aim is to influence behavior by reducing the target’s economic or social support and by signaling opposition to its actions.

The term originates from Captain Charles Boycott, an English land agent in Ireland in 1880, who was socially ostracized by tenants and supporters of the Irish Land League. The resulting practice of collective non-cooperation led to the coinage of the word “boycott,” which also appears in many languages as bojkott or boikott.

Bojkott can take various forms, including consumer boycotts (refusing to purchase certain products), organizational or employee boycotts (refusing to work with or for a target), and diplomatic or economic boycotts (restricting trade or official interactions). Campaigns often combine public messaging, media coverage, and organized participation to broaden impact and sustain action.

Notable examples include the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955–1956 in the United States, a civil rights protest that helped end segregation on public buses; broader political or religious boycotts such as the organized Arab boycott of Israel in the late 20th century; and contemporary movements like the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) campaign. Real-world outcomes vary and can be contested; some boycotts achieve policy changes or shifts in corporate behavior, while others have limited measurable effect and may raise concerns about harm to workers or bystanders.

Legal and ethical considerations differ by jurisdiction; some places protect targeted political expression as free speech, while others regulate or discourage certain boycotts to protect trade relations or public interests.