Varieties of Political Consumerism

Beschreibung

This book provides an analysis of the politics of consumption and how the ‘educated consumer’ plays a vital role in advancing responsible market practices and consumption. Based on a comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective, it explores the extent, drives and links of boycotting, buycotting, labelling schemes and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in 20 European countries. A central question addressed is whether macro-societal patterns of orientation concerning the roles of the state, companies and citizens can explain individual and cross-national differences in boycotting and buycotting. As the book shows, there is not one type of ‘political consumer’, but several, and their occurrence is directly connected to national variations of labelling schemes and Corporate Social Responsibility. Consumers need reference points and information on the political backgrounds of purchases, and policy makers must address that need through political measures which fit to the national patterns in views about cooperation and market relationships.
Carolin V. Zorell is Researcher at the University of Mannheim, Germany. Her research interest lies especially in the political and socio-psychological background of social interaction, and the inquiry of how context and personal characteristics form political participation and social cooperation.

This book provides an analysis of the politics of consumption and how the ‘educated consumer’ plays a vital role in advancing responsible market practices and consumption. Based on a comprehensive interdisciplinary perspective, it explores the extent, drives and links of boycotting, buycotting, labelling schemes and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in 20 European countries. A central question addressed is whether macro-societal patterns of orientation concerning the roles of the state, companies and citizens can explain individual and cross-national differences in boycotting and buycotting. As the book shows, there is not one type of ‘political consumer’, but several, and their occurrence is directly connected to national variations of labelling schemes and Corporate Social Responsibility. Consumers need reference points and information on the political backgrounds of purchases, and policy makers must address that need through political measures which fit to the national patternsin views about cooperation and market relationships.
Expands the present understanding of political consumerism through two original quantitative studies Highlights the relevance of political consumerism in the future world of politics Considers intrinsic factors other than the expression of value orientations

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Carolin V. Zorell

Themen in »Varieties of Political Consumerism«

political consumerism boycott buycott political participation consumer disaffection citizenship value orientations citizen-consumer hybrid Corporate Social Responsibility

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“Dr. Zorell’s book focuses on the different types of political consumerism such as boycotts and buycotts. She elucidates the logic behind these consumer behaviors and the different factors that underpin these actions. Her book is based on comprehensive background research, original ideas, an innovative research design and uses a newly collected database. Ms. Zorell’s succinct and deep analyses contribute importantly to understanding market-based forms of political action.” (Dietlind Stolle, McGill University, Canada)“This diligent, innovative empirical study enriches our knowledge on the peculiarities of Consumerism in the changing world of civic engagement. Boycotting and buycotting are outlined as genuinely unique type of political behavior. Furthermore, their distribution, individual level and contextual determinants seem to be differently embedded in the systems of participation of European societies. This offers an insightful analysis for anyone interested in the drives and developments of political participation today.” (Oscar W. Gabriel, University of Stuttgart, Germany)

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