Chapter 8: Ethical Dimensions of a Global Curriculum and Professional Development Program: Reflections on a Project in India

Leadership is a buzzword in India today, especially as this once developing country turns the corner economically and becomes an influential nation in the geopolitical arena. Secondary schools, colleges, and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) across India are promoting leadership. As India’s prominence increases, these organizations aim to develop the country’s capacity for social progress through public-spirited leaders. These changes grow from a sense that although the economy has flourished, at least for some, a lag exists in the quality of civil society and government. India remains a highly corrupt society, for example, ranking 85th of 180 nations in Transparency International’s Global Corruption Index (Transparency International, 2009). Like most societies, elites are treated with deference, often flouting the law by virtue of their power and influence such that ethical behavior is not a central consideration.