Final answer:
A boycott is a refusal to buy goods or services as a form of political or economic protest. Examples include the Montgomery Bus Boycott and international sanctions against countries like Iran.
Step-by-step explanation:
The refusal to buy something as a means of political or economic protest is called a boycott. This term reflects a form of non-violent action where individuals refuse to purchase goods or services from a company or country to show opposition to certain policies or practices. One historical example includes the Montgomery Bus Boycott during the civil rights movement, where African Americans refused to use the bus system to protest racial segregation. Similarly, on an international scale, countries, such as the United States, may enact an economic boycott against another country to force a change in policy, like the sanctions placed on Iran concerning its nuclear program.