Establishment
of a Global Commonwealth
The imperative of establishing and perpetuating the general
peace of humankind is a central component of Bahá'í teachings.
In the latter part of the nineteenth century, Bahá'u'lláh
called upon the world's rulers to reconcile their differences and to "lay
the foundations of the world's Great Peace." He proclaimed that "The
earth is but one country, and mankind its citizens." In doing so,
He outlined a number of steps that would lead to permanent stability in
international relations. At the heart of His vision was a set of new social
structures based on participation and consultation among the world's peoples.
These new institutional mechanisms would eliminate conflicts of interest
and thereby reduce the potential for disunity at all levels of society.
A number of international institutions were envisaged: a world legislature
with genuine representation and authority, an international court having
final jurisdiction in all disputes between nations, and an international
executive empowered to carry out the decisions of these legislative and
judicial bodies.
These institutions would have the means to ensure and maintain a general
disarmament by applying principles of collective security. They would
neither usurp nor suppress the basic autonomy of nations, would safeguard
the personal freedom and initiative of individuals, and would protect
long-cherished cultural traditions of the world's peoples. The system
of governance outlined by Bahá'u'lláh emphasizes the importance
of grassroots decision-making that is democratic in spirit and method,
but also provides a level of coordination and authority that makes cooperation
possible on a global scale.
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