Case Study Mahatma Gandhi Leadership in Gandhi The selections from Gandhi’s work and the commentary on his exemplary life offer an excellent laboratory for our own thought experiments with leadership. In the momentous struggle that Gandhi waged against the forces of domination and oppression in South Africa and India, we can explore some valuable themes. Some of these concepts, ideas, and themes dealing with leadership are listed below: Post Modern Leadership Leading from the follower’s point of view Leadership challenges Why leaders fail Human Relations theories Theory X/Theory Y System 4 Communication/Goal Setting/Group Participation Contingency Theory Situational Leadership Transformational Leadership Characteristics of effective leaders Servant Leadership Note: This case is difficult, initially, because of multiple layers of interpretation. That is, the first layer, the words of Gandhi, are powerful but few. The major focus is on a secondary source, an interpretation or a re-interpretation of Gandhi. Finally, you, the student, constitute a third layer of interpretation as you apply these ideas to a contemporary article and your own experiences with leadership. Case Study Discussion Questions Mahatma Gandhi 1. Gandhi has stated that “individual liberty and interdependence are both essential for life in society.” Why does Gandhi link liberty and interdependence? Aren’t those concepts often portrayed as mutually exclusive? 2. Why do Gandhi’s struggles have to be non-violent? Why is it important for Gandhi to see the limits and the perversions of power and force? 3. How is it that Gandhi can assert that nonviolence is the greatest force available to him? 4. Gandhi does not advocate a devotion to Gandhi. He claims to be inadequate, imperfect, in process. How does this claim shape the principles of Gandhi’s ability to lead the masses? 5. Gandhi argues that political change is never enough. Any change must be accompanied by a change in values. Why? What might this suggest for contemporary leaders? 6. Gandhi’s life is an experiment in truth. All moral life is an experiment, a struggle. Why can’t Gandhi set down rules for all leaders to follow? 7. The loss of life was not the ultimate value and guiding principal for Gandhi. What was his guiding principal, then? What is your guiding principal? 8. Gandhi’s march to the sea regarding the issue of salt was both symbolic and effective. Do effective leaders have to use such symbolic gestures?