The Summer of Discontent: How the ‘India Against Corruption’ Movement Unfolded; Case B: The Struggle for Change

Abstract

This case study is in three parts and describes the leadership styles and challenges facing the ‘India Against Corruption’ (IAC) movement led by Anna Hazare and Arvind Kejriwal in India.

Case B narrates how the government’s strategy of dealing with the second protest of the IAC movement backfired. Anna and Kejriwal were arrested before they began their fast. IAC took full advantage of the situation and used the news and social media to mobilize public opinion against the government. Anna began his fast-unto-death inside prison while the government, on the back foot now, attempted to bring things under control. After days of negotiation, Anna ended his fast when the parliament passed a non-binding resolution to incorporate his key demands into the Lokpal Bill. In his speech, Anna called on his supporters to continue the struggle for change.