A New World — Building a Better Future:

The world faces many threats to its future – war, climate change, tyranny, injustice and poverty are some of the major issues. Bahá’ís see the future as ultimately bright, but there are many obstacles to be overcome first. Humanity needs a fresh start. We need to build a better world.

In the second half of the nineteenth century, Bahá’u’lláh, the Founder of the Bahá’í Faith, set out a clear path towards peace and a framework for order in the world, and communicated this in writing to the rulers of the time. He promised:

“Soon will the present-day order be rolled up, and a new one spread out in its stead.”

A World Peace Conference

One basic necessity is that all the nations must come together to establish peace. This requires the involvement of the representatives of the entire world in the process. ‘Abdu’l-Bahá, the son of Bahá’u’lláh, wrote of this meeting:

“They must make the Cause of Peace the object of general consultation, and seek by every means in their power to establish a Union of the nations of the world… In this all-embracing pact the limits and frontiers of each and every nation should be clearly fixed… the size of the armaments of every government should be strictly limited… if any government later violate any one of its provisions, all the governments on earth should arise to reduce it to utter submission…”

Political Peace and Real Unity

When this peace treaty is signed, it will bring in a political peace – the end to outright war. At the same time there will be a realisation that we need greater co-operation, however unwilling, in order to survive immediate threats such as climate change. This situation must gradually evolve into a real positive unity, brought about by a fundamental change in attitude towards our fellow human beings who share this planet.

The new world civilisation which we so desperately need can only be founded on the recognition of the basic principle of the oneness of mankind. All the human sciences agree that there is only one human species. All religions teach that we should treat other people in the same way as we would like to be treated.

No-one is an island – the good of the individual

is always to be found in the good of the whole world. We need to work together and help one another in order to achieve well-being for all.

World Institutions

In this age, we increasingly have world-wide trade patterns, communications and financial systems, but we also have world-wide problems, such as pollution and international crime, which require world-wide solutions. We now need to have a government at the world level, with national and local bodies still looking after the affairs of their own areas. There needs to be:

• A World Parliament

The members of this should be elected by the people in each country, and their election should be confirmed by their respective governments.

• A World Executive

This would enact the laws required to satisfy the needs of all peoples. It will have at its disposal the combined forces of the world in order to maintain peace.

• A World Code Of Law

This will be based on justice for individuals and for all nations.

• A World Tribunal

The decisions of this body will be binding on all parties.

• A World Police Force

An international police force must be created, dedicated to upholding justice with complete impartiality.

• A World Language

A world language must be either chosen or invented. This will be taught in all the schools of each country, alongside the mother tongue of the region.

• Universal Equality

Everyone must have the right to education and to be equal before the law. There must be a universal bill of human rights.

Our Economic Future

No lasting solution to economic problems can be found unless it is based on spiritual principles such as equality and justice. The economic resources of the world will have to be used more responsibly, and shared more fairly.

Certain practical worldwide changes can begin to improve the situation. A world currency is necessary to stabilise the world economy. A universal system of weights and measures is required to improve trade and communications. A world economic community needs to be created where all economic barriers will be removed, and a world free trade area established.

For this new world civilisation to become a positive reality, attitudes must change. Spiritual principles must guide all levels of the decision-making process. Justice must be foremost, rather than greed or self-interest. Religion has always been a strong unifying force, but religious intolerance causes conflict and disintegration. Bahá’u’lláh urges us to:

“consort with the followers of all religions with joy and fragrance.”

Only when individuals regard themselves as citizens of the world will the golden age of humanity come into being:

“This earth is but one country and mankind its citizens.”

A Model for the Future

The Bahá’í administrative structure already exists at a local, national and international level and can be taken as a model for future society. People are elected to the Bahá’í bodies for their character and ability, without any nominations or canvassing. In the Bahá’í system, power is devolved to the lowest possible level, and is given to groups, not to individuals.

Consultation at all levels is a key part of Bahá’í administration. The main local community meeting consists of prayer, consultation and social interaction, designed to foster a spirit of unity and co-operation. All activities initiated by Bahá’ís are centred around bringing people together, empowering everyone to serve their wider community and thereby ensuring greater prosperity for all.

Bahá’u’lláh’s call, 150 years ago, is still waiting to be answered by the world at large. It is time we started to build a new world.