"Transparency and Anti-Corruption in India, a chat with Anu (Aradhana) Sharma" (1/19/2024)
Feb 21, 2024
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A chat with Anu Sharma about corruption in India, gender empowerment, and transparency laws. Discussion on anti-corruption efforts evolving from NGOs to political parties. Exploring Gandhi's image in anti-corruption movements and the intersection of corruption discourse with ideological movements. Delving into the complexities of transparency, corruption, and good governance in India.
Techno-moral assemblage shapes anti-corruption movements in India.
Shift from NGO to political party drives anti-corruption efforts in India.
Deep dives
Anu Sharma's Research on Corruption and Good Governance in India
Anu Sharma, a professor at Wesleyan University, explores issues of corruption, anti-corruption, and good governance in India. Her work delves into topics like transparency, the link between calls for transparency and demands to end corruption, and the role of corruption discourses within the context of Hindu nationalism.
Shifts in Anti-Corruption Movements in India
In India, anti-corruption efforts have transitioned from NGO initiatives to social movements and political parties. The India Against Corruption movement led by figures like Arvind Kejriwal shifted tactics to address corruption and transparency, culminating in the formation of the Aam Aadmi Party, advocating for clean governance.
Techno-Moral Assemblage in Anti-Corruption Movements
The anti-corruption movements in India embody a techno-moral assemblage, blending ethical vernaculars and technical expertise to address governance issues. This fusion results in a complex interplay between moral justifications and technocratic policymaking, shaping the narrative of anti-corruption efforts.
Challenges and Contradictions in Good Governance Politics
Good governance politics, while emphasizing transparency and anti-corruption, also face challenges in reconciling ideological positions. The appropriation of symbols like Gandhi's image and concepts of cleanliness highlight both the potential and complexities within anti-corruption movements, reflecting broader shifts towards techno-moral politics.
Sylvia and Aaron chat with Anu Sharma about her work on corruption and good governance in India, including that country's "Right to Know" movement and related Transparency of Information legislation. We discuss the relationship between anti-corruption legislation and women’s development and empowerment in India. We discuss the category of “techno-moral assemblage” key to Anu's oeuvre and the related limitation of liberal models of corruption. We talk about the Left-Right valence of Indian anti-corruption discourse and how anti-corruption efforts in India shift their institutional frame from NGO to social movement to political party-- often to overcome government resistance to real anti-corruption transformation.
Below are some of Anu Sharma's corruption-related publications: