Perception of Starbucks’ Corporate Social Responsibility by Consumers During the Israeli-Palestinian War

¹ Department of Communication Sciene, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Department of Business Administration, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional Veteran Yogyakarta, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

Abstract

The Israel-Palestine conflict, one of the longest and most complex geopolitical disputes, impacts multinational companies like Starbucks, particularly in consumer behavior and corporate actions. As tensions rise, boycotts against Israeli-linked corporations, including Starbucks, have intensified.Starbucks, originally from Seattle, operates over 500 stores in 59 Indonesian cities. This study, using qualitative methods, interviewed informants from Starbucks Yogyakarta through purposive and random selection. Findings reveal that loyal Starbucks customers may experience psychological effects, such as social pressure and reluctance to openly display their purchases, fearing judgment or negative perceptions.Despite this, Starbucks retains a strong customer base due to its corporate social responsibility efforts, product quality, and superior service. These factors help mitigate the potential psychological impact on consumers amid the political controversy.