International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 3(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com Sociopolitical Mobilization on Facebook: A Pragmatic Approach to Anti–Corruption Movement in India Dr.T.Padmanabhan1, Dr.C.Pichandy2, Ms.Chinju S3 1Assistant Professor, Department of Visual Communication, Faculty of Science &Humanities, SRM University, Kancheepuram, Tamil Nadu, India. 2Former Head and Professor, Department of Communication, PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, India. 3Independent Researcher (Under the guidance of Dr.T.Padmanabhan), Holding Master of Journalism & Mass Communication from Bharathiar University @ PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore, TN, India. Abstract—The anti-corruption movement followed by its and Germany (Kumar A., 2011; Suroor, 2011; Rama, 2011). impact among the people of India justified the need for the Later, the media termed this group as „Team Anna‟. change of ruling political bodies in 2014 parliamentary election and 2015 Delhi assembly election. The largest alleged scams II. THE NATURE OF THE PROBLEMATIC and scandals like the 2-G spectrum, commonwealth games, adharsh housing society scam and coalgate had Anti-corruption movement in India have identified the been a talk of the town. On one context these were highlighted wrong deeds of rulers in the political system. A step further, in newspaper, television and social media, and the mood of they have led to the emergence of a political party or else they frustration against United Progressive Alliance (UPA) are shaped into institutionalised organization of social and government had augmented among the Indians (Usha, 2014). political concern. Without social media, the possibilities of At the same time, Anna Hazare‟s voice against corruption was drawing huge attention over the nation of many linguistic highly appreciated by the people and the media, which in turn, states by the social movements would raise a question mark caused the mobilization on social media. and it was the “Facebook revolution”. A new political party Considerably, facebook mobilized the mass across the has come out in the name of AamAadmi and exposed the UPA boundaries of India. Further, the active users of facebook have government‟s inability to create a strong ombudsman bill. It fortified the anti-corruption movement, and their shares of has shaken the UPA government in Delhi. At this historic corruption related issues on facebook reached the public with juncture, from a futuristic perspective it becomes important to no hidden agenda or favours. It competes as a crucial role study the influence of facebook in mass mobilization in Indian before and during the elections and also affected the mentality society. Hence, the present investigation is an attempt to study of people in India by changing their mind frames. This study the effective use of Facebook in mass mobilization amongst a reveals the entire political impact and formation of anti- cross section of the people of Tamil Nadu state, India. corruption movement. The research scholar adopted III.OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY quantitative approach with resource mobilization and political process theories to conclude the results of this study. 1. To study the influence and role of facebook in mass mobilization on anti-corruption issue. Keywords—Anti-Corruption Movement, Sociopolitical Mobilization, Facebook Revolution, Research Mobilization 2. To measure the nature of association and difference Theory, Political Process Theory, Social Media Movements. between the users‟ demographics (Age, Educational Qualification, Occupation) and the anti-corruption issue. I. INTRODUCTION 3. To determine the importance and impact of facebook On April 5, 2011, Hazare began his indefinite fast at mobilization and anti-corruption movement. JantarMantar, New Delhi, India. He demanded the government to draft an anti-corruption bill that ought to IV. RELATED LITERATURE REVIEW AND THEORY contain stronger punishments and additional independence to the Lokpal and Lokayuktas (Ombudsman in the states). He Usha (2014) has dealt with the Indian media‟s coverage of proclaimed that the hunger strike would continue till the bill Anna Hazare‟s anti-corruption movement and the use of the was passed (PTI, 2011; BBC, 2011; Usha 2014). The mobile phone and social media platforms by the organisers of movements garnered the eye of the conventional media, and „India Against Corruption‟ movement effectively. The impact thousands gathered as a support on/for his struggle in support of social media platforms enabled the younger and educated of his struggle. What was at first the 150 individuals gathering middle class to engage themselves in online mobilization to around Hazare in his fast became a mass movement against become a mass towards the movement. Almost every corruption (PTI, 2011). Social activists, including Arvind newspaper, and television news channel, and their editors and Kejriwal, Medha Patkar, former IPS officer Kiran Bedi and prominent journalists have a social media account and a Nagabhairava Jaya Prakash Narayana joined Hazare. Later, number of prominent Indian film personalities and sports several celebrities and known personalities from all walks of persons have a social media page. It also includes activists, life extended their support for his protest (Sandeep, 2011). The writers etc. It became a common opinion platform. Further, the protest unfolds sort of a wild fire, across the nation. The Indian prominent social and other personality‟s voices gave massive cities Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, support leading to various protests across India, organised by Shillong and Aizawl witnessed protests and processions, and India Against Corruption. later the protest gathered momentum altogether in other cities, towns and far side of the boundaries, in US, Britain, France IJTRD | Mar-Apr 2016 Available [email protected] 585 International Journal of Trend in Research and Development, Volume 3(2), ISSN: 2394-9333 www.ijtrd.com Further, Madhur, Gupta, and Anand (2012) examined Anna opposition on the other hand warned the government that the Hazare‟s anti-corruption protest in relation to facebook. The watchdog law may undermine the government‟s power. study revealed that facebook had its effect on the society; the net-savvy people took the issue on facebook and disseminated V. THE RESEARCH AND NULL HYPOTHESES the importance of anti-corruption protest through the updates of the Anna Hazare‟s hunger strike for the strong Jan Lokpal RH1: Facebook has greatly contributed to mobilize the bill (Citizen Ombudsmen Bill). Besides, the identities of the mass into anti-corruption movement and enabled corrupt political leaders were unveiled by the supporters and political opportunities in its achievements in India. the pro anti-corruption pages, „India Against Corruption‟ page H01: Facebook has not contributed to mobilize the mass and „Join Anna Hazare‟s hunger strike to bring Jan Lokpal into anti-corruption movement and has had no role in Bill‟ page had gained millions of followers. The researchers resulting political opportunities in India. found that the social media played a biggest role in mobilizing the mass; its ease of access attracted the users and promoted VI. RESEARCH DESIGN the freedom of expression in posting views, sharing the information, and discussing by commenting. Moreover, youths The researcher has adopted an „ex-post facto‟ factorial have been raising their voice against violation, human rights research design which is a non-experimental design widely and corruption. Women participation was found to be less than explored in social science research, mostly relying on survey men‟s participation in online towards social issues. procedures. This method is not only scientific but a systematic empirical enquiry, where the independent variables explored Neha (2011) viewed that when there existed a connection are already present in a social context. The researcher between the social media and urban Indian youth revolution, considered the independent variables such as facebook what was viral on facebook and twitter impacted the society sociability, online participation and the demographic variables with the people‟s protest organisations on the streets. The such as age, educational qualification and occupation. The potential of the social media space in historical revolutions has dependent variable is facebook activity on anti-corruption been witnessed in the Arab world. Though the power of social movement issue. media greatly differed in the political context and the citizen action was driven by the social media after the call of Anna VII. RESEARCH QUESTIONS Hazare‟s protest, it has reverberated through internet. The protest was connected through social media and RQ1.1: Is there any effect of facebook on the respondents in communication technology tools. mass mobilization of the anti-corruption movement in terms of respondents‟ demographics (age, Rama (2011) observed the Lokpal and Lokayukta Bill 2011 educational qualification, and occupation)? comprised of the subject for social protest in India against RQ1.2: Is there any effect of facebook on the respondents in corruption. Anna Hazare‟s Anti-corruption movement aimed at mass mobilization of the anti-corruption movement in creating a watchdog ombudsman office which would have the terms of respondents‟ facebook sociability (Facebook power to receive complaints and take actions against the social circle, Facebook group strengths and corrupt