Episode 23: Chinese Boycotts - Past and Present

While there are many delicate issues that can affect foreign businesses in China, one of increasing scope and frequency are public boycotts. Often coming quickly and without warning, a company can go from beloved to hated almost overnight, for something as simple as the wrong label on a website menu, or a statement concerning the ethical sourcing of cotton.

In this episode we discuss the origin of boycotts amongst the birth of Chinese nationalism, and their reemergence in the 21st century. While originally spontaneous grassroots affairs, these modern boycotts are supported by Chinese State Media, and are often used as an unofficial arm of state policy.

However, despite their high profile, these boycotts seem to have a mixed result in actually changing the way foreign companies do business in china, or in changing the habits of Chinese consumers.