HENK03673U ENGEROM/CEMES - The Political Consumer. Consumer Boycotts in Europe in the 20th Century

This course explores the development of the concept of ‘political consumerism’. Increasingly, shopping practices have become an identity marker and a medium for expressing personal values and lifestyle choices. Further, consumers are able to engage in more activist endeavors through the purchase or boycott of particular products.

Drawing upon historical as well as contemporary cases, the course examines the concept of political consumerism and how everyday actions are connected to wider social processes in society. Students will study the intersection between consumers, civil society, and the corporate sector, and among the case studies will be the Anti-Apartheid Movement and the Occupy movement. The course literature will include texts by Jürgen Habermas, Ulrich Beck, and Anthony Giddens. In addition, the course material will feature news and magazine articles, as well as visual resources such as posters, advertisements etc. The students will develop a critical and interdisciplinary understanding of the political consumer and the implications of boycotting.