The Central Role of the NGO Network in Promoting the BDS Movement
Abstract
An influential network of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) plays a central role in the campaigns calling for boycotts of Israel that were launched at the 2001 UN Durban Conference on Racism. Under the labels of human rights and international law, and through the application of soft power, this network has provided core resources in academic, economic, and other forms of boycotts.
This essay describes and analyses the NGO contribution, according to three categories that are active in these boycotts: (1) global, (2) Palestinian and Israeli, and (3) local or regional groups including those supported and operated by churches. For each level, the specific boycott activities and platforms, such as the European Union and the UN, along with the relevant funders are examined.