Publications
Memorandum No. 169, Tel Aviv: Institute for National Security Studies, September 2017

One of the main sources of inspiration repeatedly cited by the BDS movement is the Anti-Apartheid Movement (AAM), which worked to abolish South African apartheid.1 This article draws a comparative analysis between BDS and AAM in light of the rationale that the former is basing its attempt to achieve its goals on the success of the latter. The article begins by relating to the international arena, which provides the backdrop for the activities of both movements. This is followed by a description of the South African case study and the AAM operational infrastructure, and focuses on the similarities and the differences between the two movements. The concluding section emphasizes the central challenge to BDS as highlighted by the comparison to AAM and the danger that this movement currently presents to the State of Israel.