The internationalisation of nonviolent resistance the case of the BDS campaign

This paper analyzes the factors that contribute to the success of international civil society solidarity networks, using the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement as a case study and comparing it to the global anti-apartheid movement of the 1970s and 1980s. The paper identifies three key differences between the two movements:

1. Internal Factors: These relate to the organizational structure and membership of the anti-apartheid movement, which had a more cohesive and broad-based foundation compared to the BDS campaign.
2. Ideational Factors: These involve the level of legitimacy enjoyed by the anti-apartheid movement, which was influenced by its ability to garner widespread international support and moral backing.
3. Contextual Factors: These refer to the socio-political and economic environments within which the anti-apartheid movement operated, which were more conducive to international action due to the global consensus against apartheid in South Africa.

The paper concludes that the success of the anti-apartheid sanctions was rooted in the synergy between local resistance and the global solidarity movement. For the BDS movement to achieve similar impact, it is crucial that both local and international resistance against the Israeli occupation remain strong and interconnected.