Studying the New Politics of Consumption

The multifaceted and dynamic phenomenon of political consumerism (PC) has burgeoned and diversified over the past decades, largely with environmental, consumerist and anti-sweatshop movements as key drivers for change and as creators of new innovative institutions. Boycotts, buycotts, communicative actions and political consumer lifestyles engage consumers and producers and institutions globally. Starting from social movements’ actions and expanding into lifestyle politics PC has grown into a force for handling complex and tough problems in different domains of production and consumption of transnational and multi-level character. For this paper we draft the introductory framing for an OUP handbook on the topic. The paper reviews selected key literature in political science, sociology and other disciplines, and discusses important questions about the history, definition, varieties, and geographic spread of PC. It highlights that nowadays PC includes individuals, groups, organizations as well as public and private institutions and systems in complex and worldwide relationships, thus requiring its examination at various levels of analysis through an interdisciplinary approach. We are mapping how, why and where PC has developed and discuss core theoretical and methodological points from a multi-disciplinary as well as micro, meso and macro perspective. The paper explains in general terms the political and economic significance of PC both spatially and temporally. Finally, the paper discusses how PC relates to sustainable, ethical, unethical, nationalistic, and undemocratic consumption.