INTRODUCTION

1. Civil society can be seen as the sum total of individual and collective initiatives
for common public good. This definition of civil society acknowledges the presence
of individual initiatives in different cultures. Individual action, howsoever limited
and small, contributes to the well-being of society as a whole. This has been
reinforced through various religious and spiritual traditions in different societies in
different periods of history. Collective initiatives, as has been mentioned earlier,
take on different forms in different periods of history. In today’s context, they take
on a variety of associational forms based on the nature of association between
citizens and their families. Today, traditional associational basis of caste, ethnicity,
community are being replaced with more contemporary affiliations based on
neighbourhood, profession, class and work place.

2. The potential of civil society in affecting the state and citizens’ lives is
beginning to be recognised all over the state; at the same time it is also being
increasing realised that governance is not the sole responsibility of the
government. Hence in the promotion of “good governance” civil society can play an
important role in reforming the state in the badly governed countries and through
interrogation and collaboration can help promote democracy, rule of law and social
justice.

Functional Contribution of Civil society

3. Civil society’s functional contribution to good governance could be:

(a) Watchdog — against violation of human rights and governing

deficiencies.
(b) Advocate — of the weaker sections’ point of view.
(c) Agitator — on behalf of aggrieved citizens.
(d) Educator — of citizens on their rights, entitlements and responsibilities
and the government about the pulse of the people.
(e) Service Provider — to areas and people not reached by official efforts or
as government’s agent.
(f) Mobiliser — of public opinion for or against a programme or policy.

4. Civil society acts through ‘social capital’— the capacity of people to act
together willingly in their common long-term interest. Social capital is strong in a
homogeneous, egalitarian society. Civil society as a whole is, therefore, unable to
play its full potential role in enforcing good governance in India except when
extraordinary leadership overcomes narrow loyalties, or when an issue is of
common, major concern to all sections (like natural calamities). Smaller units of
governance and decentralisation of governance are, therefore, indispensable in
India.

5. Individuals cannot take on the huge political-bureaucratic machine that the

government is, nor can the entire civil society act on behalf of every citizen. Civil
society, therefore, has to operate through compact, focused organisations based on
strong social capital. While giving a shape to its functional contribution towards
good governance with a common cause to majority of people Civil Society
Activism comes on forefront. Therefore, Activism is “action on behalf of a cause,
action that goes beyond what is conventional or routine. The action might be door-
to-door canvassing, alternative radio, public meetings, rallies, or fasting. The cause
might be women's rights, anti corruption, environmental, opposition to a factory, or
world peace.

6. Civil Society Activism has played a major role in ending slavery, challenging
dictatorships, protecting workers from exploitation, protecting the environment,
promoting equality for women, opposing racism, and many other important issues.
Activism has also be used for aims such as attacking minorities or promoting war
which may be considered as the bad face of the activism and may lead to terrorism
and other militant form of activism. We have faced the threats of separatism (J & K
and North eastern states), communalism (Hindu- Muslim), financial crisis (1991) and
not to forget the threats from our neighbours(Pakistan and China) and still managed
to survive still as a single whole(with the help of democracy).

7. India has successfully celebrated Democracy for 62 years, from the time of
adoption of the Constitution. Today it has reached the pinnacle of its limits.
Democracy has provided ample space for the growth, development and especially
acted as the vent to the grievances of the public. Whatever be the problem faced
since Independence, the elected representatives have been able to handle without
allowing any part of the country to be separated.

8. But today, we will witness the real test on the sustainability of the
Democracy itself; will it be able to withstand the pressure which is generated due
to corruption? Since 1950 till date, we have seen Political activism which has
remained throughout. During the time of Jawaharlal Nehru, we saw the rise of the
political activism and it enjoyed the people's confidence. During the period when
Indira Gandhi became the Prime Minister, the political activism went beyond the
limits of the constitution and it was time for someone to step up to maintain the
equilibrium of democracy and stop it from reaching Fascism. Then came the
Judicial Activism, in the case of Keshvananda Bharthi in year 1971-72 and
coined a new term "Basic structure of the Constitution" , which demised the
supremacy of the Parliament.
9. We have had dark hours of Judicial Activism in the time of the
emergency where the fundamental rights were not honoured to the citizens. But
later, we have seen the growth of Judiciary, in terms of suo-motto, Public interest
Litigation, ordering the Executive of the government in the case of failure, even
question the basis of appointment of higher officials etc. The Political had got the
head start in the activism race and hence Judiciary has not been able to yet make
and relative political reform.

10. In 1990's we have seen the strong wind in the Electoral reforms or we can
term it as the Electoral activism under the eminent leadership of the then Chief
Election Commissioner, T N Seshan. Though he was able to make some relative
changes in the election process, he was unable to sweep the corruption out. After
his tenure, though the Election commission has lost its charm, it is making a lot of
recommendations for improvement but has not got enough support from the
political representatives.

11. Again the politics survived another bullet. How long would the Politics continue
without the required reforms to keep the corruption at the minimum? I believe
we are getting closer to that day, where we will have the politics at the mercy of the
people and the constitutional institutions. I might have been harsh by using the
word "mercy", but the government has to work and provide the services to the
people as per the people's requirement and not as per the wish of the of few
lobbyists. But the question is, can it be possible to have a state with Citizen
centric administration when the politics has taken the top seat and is not
willing change?

12. Yes, it is possible, because today we are seeing multiple activism though
not working together. They all have the credibility of the people and the some are
enshrined in the constitution.
(a) We have the Judicial Activism still active questioning the government
at all fields’ recent ones to name few are
(i) In the food grains rotting and distribution to the BPL.
(ii) In the black money which has been laundered from the country.
(iii) In the appointment of the Central vigilance commission and many
more.

(b) Besides this, today we have most important Civil Society activism
very well in sync with Media Activism, , the latest one is CAG activism,
Lokayukta activism which is getting on to the nerves of the politics to get
the political reforms to be in place. Media has been very active in all the cases
and having continuous debates which is keeping the citizens informed. Besides
this, it is also getting active in getting into the field of investigation to get to
the bottom of the issue. Civil society activism has been there for a long time,
but today has reached the pinnacle under Anna Hazare, who is determined to
 fight the government with an all-out effort for the political reforms and to
reduce the corruption within the society.

(c) CAG activism is something new because until recently it was just an
agency which making sure the financial audits. But today has started to make
reports on the performance audit, which has made a remarkable impact in
cases like 2 G spectrum, CWG, KG basin, etc. But is has limitation as it is not a
prosecuting agency. But nevertheless has made a remarkable impact.

(d) Lokayukta Activism, we recently saw that just a Lokayukta report and
the civil society activism made the CM of Karnataka resign his post and is
making remarkable effort against the corruption in the states. Such efforts can
only be made in democracy, unlike riots or civil war in the authoritarian states.
Any how these efforts of the above institutions are surely going to make a
difference to make the balanced state which is citizen oriented.

13. We have representative parliamentary democracy leaving the decision-making

to a small group of elected representatives. This could result in government ‘of ’
the people becoming a government ‘off ’ the people. Progressive
marketisation of traditional government functions has widened this gap. There is a
gap between the not-so-efficient state and the profit-alone-matters private sector
which needs a third sector to bridge it. This is how civil society is seen today and to
achieve the desired effect beneficial to the common people activism in various
forms emerged.

Objectives of the Study

14. The objectives of the study are as follows. These objectives also defines the
scope of the study
(a) To gain a clearer analytical understanding of the processes and
institutions of civil society that is engaged in promoting good governance in
India;
(b) To focus attention and debate on those aspects of civil society activism
which can enhance the quality of governance and democracy; and
(c) To strengthen the capacity of civil society organisations to further
enhance their impact on improving governance and democratic functioning in
India.
(d) To analyse Anna Hazare’s Anti Corruption campaign and lesson learned
from Public Relations point of view.

Methodology

15. Following methodology has been followed for the study.

(a) Detailed analysis and understanding of the terms - Civil Society,
Governance and Activism Areas of Activism, Importance of leaders in activist
group, activist trajectory and future of activism.
(b) Analytical evaluation of rise of civil society with context to Democracy,
Development and Dominance.
(c) Civil Society Activism and analysis of various movements.
(d) Analysis of Civil Society Activism from the Public Relations point of view.
Case Study of Anna Hazare anti corruption campaign.
 CHAPTER I : CIVIL SOCIETY, GOVERNANCE AND
ACTIVISM

Civil Society

16. Civil society can be seen as the sum total of individual and collective
initiatives for common public good. This definition of civil society acknowledges
the presence of individual initiatives in different cultures. Individual action,
howsoever limited and small, contributes to the well-being of society as a whole.
This has been reinforced through various religious and spiritual traditions in
different societies in different periods of history. Collective initiatives, take on
different forms in different periods of history. In today’s context, they take on a
variety of associational forms based on the nature of association between citizens
and their families. Today, traditional associational basis of caste, ethnicity,
community are being replaced with more contemporary affiliations based on
neighbourhood, profession, class and work place.

17. The above definition then looks at the meaning and interpretations of public
good. Historically, public good has been the domain of public institutions, so-
called state institutions and political formations. With a decline of state
institutions, on the one hand, and growing differentiation in the needs and interests
of diverse population, on the other, it is no longer tenable to repose all
responsibility for public good in the hands of public state institutions. However,
public good is not a homogenous concept and different sections of the population
may interpret public good differently.

18. This may also vary from a local reality to a global issue. Recent debates have
also promoted the concept of global public good which transcends the
boundaries of nation-states and unifies human endeavours in some significant ways.
This approach to public good, therefore, implies differences, conflicts and
contestations in the very meaning of public good. As a result, civil society becomes
the space where establishment of common public good is a process of struggle
between different sections of society. This is most visible in contemporary context
in the discourse between a majority and a minority culture and a majority and a
minority interests.

19. The above approach to understand civil society, therefore, makes it amply
obvious that this is not a virtuous concept promoting good and happiness for all.
There are differences and conflicts within civil society; there are inequalities
and hegemonic forces operating in the functioning of civil society. This is true at
the local and national level just as it is happening in the international arena.
Secondly, in the current literature, civil society is viewed as a non-political
sphere where individuals come together and form associations voluntarily.
A clear cut distinction is thus made between the boundaries and
functioning of the state and civil society

20. It is important to note that while civil society retains its autonomy from the
state that autonomy is rarely absolute. Within this relatively autonomous sphere
civil society interrogates the state and negotiates with it through
opposition or co-operation - collaboration to realise its aim.

Governance

21. The second theme of this study is governance. Historically, particularly after
the Second World War, it was assumed that the job of governing nation-states was
the responsibility of the governments. Democratic political frameworks of
governments suggested three independent and inter related functions:
(a) Legislative,
(b) Executive and
(c) Judiciary.
In different societies over the past fifty years, these functions have been organised
differently, though still carrying a common aspiration.

22. With growing disenchantment of ordinary people with institutions of the

government, with declining capacity of these institutions to respond to diverse
interests and expectations of their population, with increasing gap in the policies of
governments and their practical elaboration, with growing distance with and
alienation of the poor and the marginalised from the elite-dominated institutions of
government, with continued persistence of problems of poverty, exclusion and
marginalisation in many countries of the world, and with growing importance of
national and transnational private business interests, the concept of government
has now begun to be changed to the concept of governance. In its elementary
meaning, it implies that governance in a society is not just responsibility of
governments. Governance becomes the joint obligation of citizens and all
institutions in a given society, including institutions of the government in the
legislative, executive and judiciary functions.

Activism

23. Activism and activist groups can be defined several ways, L.A. Grunig defines
activism as: "An activist public is a group of two or more individuals who
organize in order to influence another public or publics through action
that may include education, compromise, persuasion, pressure tactics or
force”.
24. Anderson defines activists groups as: "strategic publics because they
constrain an organization's ability to accomplish its goals and mission."
Anderson went on to describe activists as those that "create issues, appeal to
government, courts, or the media for litigation, regulation or other forms
of pressure."

25. Activists are typically challengers to policies and practices, trying to

achieve a social goal, not to obtain power themselves. Much activism
operates behind the scenes. There are many varieties of activism, few can be of
the form like

(a) From the face-to-face conversations to massive protests.

(b) From principled behaviour to the unscrupulous.
(c) From polite requests to objectionable interference.
(d) From peaceful protests to violent attacks.

Activism is not well defined, so different people often have somewhat different
ideas of what constitutes activism. Activism is not necessarily a good thing or a bad
thing. It all depends on the cause and the actions, and a person's judgment of what
is worthwhile. One person might say that a protest is a valuable defence of freedom
and another person might say that it is a dangerous attack on human rights.

Activism and Conventional Politics

26. Activism is action that goes beyond conventional politics, typically being more
energetic, passionate, innovative, and committed. In systems of representative
government, conventional politics includes election campaigning, voting, passing
laws, and lobbying politicians. Action outside of these arenas includes
neighbourhood organizing, protest marches, and sit-ins. The boundary between
activism and conventional politics is fuzzy and depends on the
circumstances. Action on behalf of special causes such as corruption, animal
rights or anti-abortion goes beyond conventional politics. Sometimes, though,
political parties are set up to promote special causes, such as labour movements in
many countries in the 1800s and early 1900s or green movements since the 1960s.
In this way activism becomes conventional politics.

27. Often activism and conventional politics operate side by side, such as
the labour movement - including unions and rank-and-file activities - alongside a
labour party, or the environmental and peace movements alongside a green party.
It is also possible to speak of activism inside an organization, such as a corporation,
government department, political party, or labour union. Organizations have their
usual ways of doing things, such as senior executives making decisions in
corporations. If employees organize to challenge a decision or try to alter the usual
decision-making process, this can be called activism, though it is much less visible
than activism in public places. But I am not giving much emphasis to this kind of
activism.

28. Activism is typically undertaken by those with less power, because those with
positions of power and influence can usually accomplish their aims using
conventional means. But sometimes those in positions of power might be called
activists, when they go beyond normal expectations, such as an "activist
president" who pushes through an ambitious agenda or an "activist court or
judicial activism" that interprets the law in new ways.