How to Think About Boycotts
Dec 05, 2025•58 min
Listen to this episode in Metacast mobile app
Don't just listen to podcasts. Learn from them with transcripts, summaries, and chapters for every episode. Skim, search, and bookmark insights. Learn more
Episode description
Given the controversy over my talk at Tel Aviv University, I thought it would be interesting to talk to two experts on boycotts.
Zackie Achmat is a veteran South African political activist and a leading authority on the role of boycotts in the anti-apartheid movement. Mazin Qumsiyeh is founder and volunteer director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University and the author of Popular Resistance in Palestine: A History of Hope and Empowerment, which chronicles non-violent protest in Palestinian history.
We spoke about the history of boycotts in both places, the ethical dilemmas they create, and whether or not they work.
This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit peterbeinart.substack.com/subscribe
For the best experience, listen in Metacast app for iOS or Android