The historical literature on the Arab boycott of Israel is limited, with existing studies focusing on the Arab League’s state-led boycott. This lecture will explore the popular dimension of the boycott through the case of Kuwait, where the local branch of the Movement of Arab Nationalists (MAN) led a campaign to halt postal and commercial dealings with Israel. This popular effort led to the adoption of the boycott as state policy. Through MAN publications, activists’ accounts, and British archives, the lecture will trace the development of the popular role in the boycott from its beginnings in 1953 to the 1967 Arab-Israeli War.

Speaker:
Talal Al-Rashoud is an Assistant Professor of modern Arab history at Kuwait University. He obtained his PhD in history from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), and holds master’s degrees in history and political science from King’s College London and Georgetown University respectively. Al-Rashoud specializes in the history of modern ideological movements in the Gulf region and their transnational connections.