Israel: why the brand boycotts probably won’t make much difference
The ConversationNov 28, 2023
Boycott Impacts McDonald's, Starbucks Amid Israel-Hamas War
The Facts
The war in the Middle East is reportedly affecting US-headquartered international corporations as at least two of the country's biggest restaurant chains saw sales figures impacted by political boycotts last year.
McDonald's missed its quarterly objective for the first time in four years from October through December as sales grew 0.7% — and not 5.5% as the market expected — in the Middle East, China, and India.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Boycotting Western brands is hardly a new political tactic and has long been used during the turbulent history of the Middle East. But case studies show that such grassroots efforts — ranging from Pro-Palestinian initiatives on the left to "anti-woke" boycotts on the right — don't move the needle much when it comes to corporate bottom lines in the long run. The global economic system will continue to function as normal.
Establishment-critical narrative
Grassroots collective action is turning real, which is an ominous sign for the West and its big business. A whole new generation is playing an increasingly active role in the Muslim world. The boycott movement is being fueled by ordinary men and women, especially youth, making intentional choices about their consumption. Western corporations will continue to feel the effects of these movements as they shake the foundation of the "rules-based order."
Nerd narrative
There's a 50% chance that North Korea will have a McDonald's by July 2046, according to the Metaculus prediction community.