This article is a case study of the campaign against the Coca-Cola Company in
Plachimada, Kerala, India, which was a reaction against alleged environmental
damages and water depletion caused by the company’s production of soft drinks.
It addresses the following questions: How was civil society used as a platform for
this struggle and what was the outcome? Did this campaign affect the political
participation of its members? The study is based on interviews and surveys of the
villagers in Plachimada and connects to theories on social movements and political
participation, as well as to the debate on Indian civil society. The findings presented
show the importance of having a local, core group in charge of the campaign, while
simultaneously making use of existing support groups at the regional, national,
and international levels. It also reveals that after reaching its goal, the campaign
has resulted in a general increase of political participation amongst its members.