Varieties of Political Consumerism

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

Autorentext

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.

Klappentext

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.

Inhalt

1. Revising Our Understanding of Political Consumerism.- 2. Perspectives on Political Consumerism.- 3. Explaining Political Consumerism.- 4. Political Consumerism at the Country Level.- 5. Political Consumerism at the Individual Level.- 6. Political Consumerism as a Multi-Layered Process.