Whether protesting your university's pro-war investments or horrific conditions of workers in sweat shops sewing brand name clothes, a boycott is an effective way to send a message. It hits big business and local capitalist oppressors alike right where it hurts - the wallet. This guide will go over

What's a boycott?

Who can do it?

How to organize

What is it?

Boycotts have emerged in recent decades as a favoured means of grassroots opposition to certain politics and practices. Often these boycotts are directed at firms or industries in the name of environmental or humanitarian goals. In the past few months, framed as an attempt to build on the successes of a similarly structured campaign against historic South African apartheid, calls for boycotts have been raised in response to Israeli action in Gaza. These calls have included a request for the boycotting of Israeli academic institutions. Boycotts raise fundamental issues for universities and other academic institutions: how do boycotts affect the university's commitments to free speech and inquiry, which are central to our functions?