Religious boycott in Indonesia: investigation of antecedents and the effect of religiosity dimensions

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this study is twofold. First, to investigate whether religiosity holds a significant effect on religious animosity in boycott circumstances in Indonesia and the interplay of religiosity dimensions (Study 1). Second, to investigate the antecedents of the intention to participate in religious boycotts (Study 2). The theory of planned behavior (TPB) is used as the foundation to explore and develop the antecedents.Design/methodology/approachThe quantitative research uses a scenario from a real case of boycott incident in Indonesia; a significant country for the Muslim community and the host to the biggest Muslim population in the world. The case is related to a boycott toward the leading brand of the bakery (Sari Roti). In total, 270 adult Muslims participate as respondents using purposive and snowball sampling techniques. The data is then analyzed using multiple regression analyzes.FindingsStudy 1 reveals that religiosity has a significant effect on religious animosity. Thus, religiosity is a relevant factor in affecting boycotts. Further, the dimensions of religiosity (intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity) play intertwining roles in affecting religious animosity. Study 2 reveals that the significant antecedents of religious boycott intention are attitude toward religious boycott, normative belief, motivation to comply. The political tendency is a significant covariate. The attitude toward religious boycott has the highest effect on religious boycott intention and is preceded by religious animosity and perceived success likelihood.Research limitations/implicationsThe sample is chosen from the population of Indonesian adult Muslims. Hence, caution should be applied when generalizing across other populations.Practical implicationsResults of the current research can help managers to prevent and to anticipate the potential negative impacts of a religious boycott on their businesses through the understanding of the factors affecting the intention to participate in such boycotts. Managers may initiate marketing interventions for such anticipations by creating communications responding to the potential animosity and boycott issues.Social implicationsGovernments and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) can benefit from the current research in their efforts to prevent potential national instability and social or political chaos. The research findings may increase the understanding about antecedents of religious boycott, and, in turn, the governments and NGOs can plan social engineering initiatives for corrective and preventive actions accordingly.Originality/valueThe paper fulfills the conceptual gap by investigating whether religiosity and religious animosity are relevant in the boycott context. The paper also shows the different effects and the interplay among the antecedents of religious boycott intention. There is no prior literature that initiates and integrates the antecedents of religious boycott intention using TPB as the base theory.