boycots

A boycott is a form of collective action in which individuals or groups abstain from purchasing or using goods and services from a target—such as a company, government, or industry—to demand a change in policies, practices, or leadership. The term originated in the 19th century from Captain Charles Boycott, an Irish land agent who was ostracized during a campaign by Irish tenants; the word has since become a general label for organized withdrawal from commerce or social interaction. The standard plural is boycotts; boycots is a less common variant.

Boycotts are carried out through various methods, including consumer boycotts (refusing to buy specific products), workplace boycotts (refusing to work for a company), public campaigns, picketing, and divestment initiatives. They are typically organized by advocacy groups, labor unions, communities, or online networks and seek to mobilize public opinion to pressure the target to alter its policies or leadership. Notable historical examples include the Irish boycott of the 1880s, the Montgomery Bus Boycott of 1955–56 in the United States, and later international campaigns against apartheid in South Africa.

The effectiveness of boycotts varies and depends on factors such as breadth and duration of participation, availability of alternatives, and the target’s vulnerability to reputational or financial impact. Critics argue that boycotts can harm workers and bystanders, may be misused for political leverage, or fail if the target can relocate supply chains. Legally, peaceful boycotts are generally protected as expression in many democracies, though some jurisdictions regulate organized economic pressure in certain contexts.