THREATS POSED BY GLOBALISATION AND RESPONSES BY RUkUSOCIAL MOVEMENTS: CASE OF THE KARNATAKA RAJYA RAITHA SANGHA IN SOUTH INDIA A Thesis Presented to The Faculty of Graduate Studies of The University of Guelph BY BRIAN J. MCHATTIE In partial fulfillrnent of requirements For the degree of Master of Science December, 2000 O Brian J. McHattie, 2000 National Library Bibliothéque nationale du Canada Acquisitions and Acquisitions et Bibliographic Services services bibliographiques 395 Wellington Street 395. nie Wellington Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Ottawa ON KIA ON4 Canada Canada Your file Vorre reference Our lye Notre rdfQrwic8 The author has granted a non- L'auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive licence allowing the exclusive permettant à la National Library of Canada to Bibliothèque nationale du Canada de reproduce, loan, distribute or sell reproduire, prêter, distribuer ou copies of this thesis in rnicroform, vendre des copies de cette thèse sous paper or electronic fomats. la forme de microfiche/f&n, de reproduction sur papier ou sur format électronique. The author retains ownership of the L'auteur conserve la propriété du copyright in this thesis. Neither the droit d'auteur qui protège cette thèse. thesis nor substantial extracts from it Ni la thèse ni des extraits substantiels may be printed or otherwise de celle-ci ne doivent être imprimés reproduced without the author's ou autrement reproduits sans son permission. autorisation. ABSTRACT THREATS POSED BY GLOBALISATION AND RESPONSES BY RURAL SOCIAL MOVEMENTS: CASE OF THE KARNATAKA IWJYA RAITELA SANGHA LN S. ]INDIA Brian J. McHattie Advisor: University of Guelph, 2000 Professor D. Douglas This thesis is an investigation of the effects of globdisation and responses by rural sociai rnovements through a case study of the Karnataka Rajya Raita Sangha (KRRS) farrners' movement in south India. The structural adjustment plan / free trade version of globalisation arrived in India in 1991 and is causing rising unemployment aild food security concems, geater emphasis on export-oriented crops and the appearance of cheap irnported goods. Following successful fmers' respect campaigns and an ill-fated foray into electoral politics, the KRRS began challenging globalisation througii a series of attacks on multinational companies such as Monsanto. Though it is the darling of global social rnovements, the KRRS' success locally has been limited by two main factors: 1) th& charismatic, yet autocratie leadership styIe and lack of institutionalisation, and; 2) their Green Revolution Iarge farmer class character which aliows only for reform when transfomative or radical structural change is required. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS T must begin by thanking Jocelyn for encouraging me to begin my Masters and for providing support throughout. My advisor, Professor David Douglas introduced me to issues around globalisation and Professor Jana Janakirarn showed me the way to India, for what would become one of the most mernorable experiences of my life. In common with every student, 1 could not have survived the graduate studies experience without the staiwart efficiency and compassion of Sally Stoddart and the administrative assistants in the Rural Planning and Development office. Thanks also to a great Fiend, J.V.R, Mu~~Y, a diploma student from hdia who taught me much and hosted me to a great Diwali weekend with his farnily in Mumbai. 1 had the best possible experiences during my 6.5 month study period ir, India, always a destination of great fascination to me. My visit began in New Delhi where the employees of the Institute of Social Sciences (ISS) gave me a good introduction to the subcontinent. 1 would especially Iike to thank kindred spirit social activist Dr. Gin; my great fkiend Gopi; the inteIlectual stimulation provided by Dr. M.A. Oommen; and the fellows in the e-mail room who kept me connected to Iife back home- One of my ",ou1us" was Professor T.K. Oomrnen in the Sociology Department at Ja~vaharlalNehru University whose clear ideas about social movements had a major influence on this thesis. In Bangalore, ISS staff continued the support provided in New Delhi, and found me a wonderful place to stay, the Institute of Social and Ecouomic Change where 1 met many brilliant professors and students. Dr. Gururaja Rao hecarne my great friend and translater on trips to rural Kamataka- His contacts in Mysore and Dhanvad made trips to those places very special and 1leamed far more than would have been possible, Appendix B contains a List of the people 1 interviewed in india and 1 am most thankful to them dl. Special thanks are due to feilow social movement thinkers Kripa, Muzaffx Assadi and Stig Maddsen. Siddaveeranna, the brother of fellow University of Guelph graduate student Swamy Haladi, welcomed me into his home and the two days spent in Davangere with them made me feel sad to leave. Swamy also put me in touch with contacts at the University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS) in Bangalore and there Professors G- Devegowda, M.G. Chandrakanth, T.N- Prakash and their students made me feel at home. UAS graduate Poornima took me home to meet her family and together with her merwe attended several Indian cultural events and 1 leamed much about great Indian thinkers including Gandhi, Ramakrishna and Swarni Vivekanand. Bangalore's Vijaynagar neighbourhood became a home away Erom home for me. A number of ECXRS leaders met with me and I thank them ail for putting up with my inquiries, especially Professor Nanjundaswamy, K.C. Basavaraja, K.S. Puttiniah and Parvati Kalasannavar and her f~ly.When 1 was at my wit's end about how to get to the villages to conduct field work, J. Janangal. of Agriculture, Man, tcology (AME) met with me and had my whole month mapped out in a few liours, including train tickets! AME's Raichur office provided great support and good humour in spite of having to ded with my tantrurns. Also special thanks to Vanaja Ramprasand of the Green Foundation whose community seed collection program is tmly inspirational. FinalIy thanks to the thousands of Indians who made each day a littIe bit better: helpful bus and train conductors and fellow riders, accornodating hotel owners, smiles fiom people dong the way, and inspirational organic farmers, 1'11 be back! TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 THE NAT= OF PLANMNG. GLOBALIZATION. AND RESPONSES BY SOCLAL MOVEMENTS: A THEOFLETICAL APPROACH ..................................... 1 1.1 Planning. Power and Societal Change ...................................................................... i 1.1.1 Planning Traditions: Top-Down Social ReforrdPolicy Analysis and Bottom-Up Social LeaminghWo bihkmion................................................................................................... 3 . 1.1.2 Comrnzmzcat~veActs ............................................................................................... 8 1.2 Characterishg Globalisation Guided by the Concept of Rationality ................ .. ..... 9 1.2.1 Defining md Contextzralising Globalisation ................................................... 10 1-22 Globaliza~ion and Market. Social and Ecological Rrltionalities.......................... 12 1-23 Rolesfor Staîe. Mdet and Civil Socie y ............................................................. 12 1.2.4 DeJinitions of Rat ionality ..................................................................................... 14 1.2.4.1 Market Rationality ........................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.4.2 Social Rationality ............................................................................................................................. 19 1.2. EcoIogical Rzitionality ...................................................................................................................... ,-33 1.3 An Organised Response from Civil Society: The Concept of Social Movements- 28 1.3.1 What DeBnes a Social Movement? ................................................................... 28 1.3.2 Socid Movements and Challenges to Globalisaiion ............................................ 30 1.3.3 hportmt Issztes Facing Social Movement Action ............................................... 33 3 1 Issue 1 : Charismatic Leaders and Anti-Institutional Movements ................................................... 36 1.3.3.2 Issue 2: Movement Composition and Change SfyIc ......................................................................... 40 1.4 Research Argument ................................................................................................ 42 2.0 METHODOLOGY...................... .. .....................................................................45 2.1 Selection of Topic and Study kea: A Personal Account ...................................... 45 2.2 Goals, Objectives and Research Questions ............................................................ 48 2.2 1 Resenrch Goals. Objectives and Research Qzrestions....................................... 49 2-3 A Qualitative Research Approach Using a Case Study ......................................... 52 2.3.1 Litermzrre Semch ................................................................................................. 53 2.3.2 Field Research ..................................................................................................... 54 3.0 THE GLOBALIZATION PROCESS ANI) INDIAN AGRICUILITm ........ 58 3.1 Introduction to Food and Agriculture in India ....................................................... 58 3 -2