Political action

With the rise of the modern multi-national corporation, North American and European DIY culture has increasingly become a social and political ideology as well as a hobby and fashion aesthetic the modern DIY movement is viewed as a response on an individual scale to modern industrial society's reliance on mass-production.

In response to various large multi-national companies exploiting labor in developing countries, the DIY subculture has increasingly seen its choices as consumers motivated in part to not support such cruelty and abuse. This view of consuming less as political statement is not agreed upon in the subcultures it is found in its adherents.

A common sentiment expressed in DIY culture is to think globally, act locally, meaning that support of multinational corporations supports exploitative labor and environmental practices, so to purchase goods and services made locally in effect boycotts these organizations.

 In addition, the making, recycling, or otherwise following a doctrine of "non consumption" as part of DIY subculture lessens the amount of sales taxes one pays, such taxes being viewed as similarly aiding such morally repugnant institutions as governments which wage war, but is a motivating force for many.