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MEMORANDUM
To: The Universal House of Justice
Date: 10 September 1990
From: Research Department
WORLD GOVERNMENT AND THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF JUSTICE
The Research Department has studied the questions raised by Mr. ... and Mr.
... in their letter postmarked 10 July 1990 to the Universal House of
Justice. Messrs. ... and ... are law students who are preparing a research
paper relating the concept of sovereignty in international law to the Baha'i
World Order. As a background to their questions, they refer to the following
statements:
The remark attributed to 'Abdu'1-Baha in "The Promulgation of Universal
Peace: Talks Delivered by 'Abdul-Baha during His Visit to the United States
and Canada in 1912", 2nd. ed. (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust. 1982). p.
455. in which the Master indicates that the Universal House of Justice "is
endowed with a political as well as a religious function, the consummate
union and blending of church and state".
Shoghi Effendi's comments about the non-political character of the Faith and
his assertion that. no matter how "advanced their institutions." the Baha'is
will not "violate, under any circumstances, the provisions of their
country's constitution" nor "allow the machinery of their administration to
supersede the government of their respective countries." See "The World
Order of Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust,
1982), pp. 65-66.
The reference in "The Promise of World Peace" (Haifa: Baha'i World
Centre,1985). p. 15. to the means by which a World Parliament will be
constituted, namely. its members will be elected by the people of each
country and confirmed by their respective governments.
Mr. ... and Mr. ... note that a future world government will consist of an
international executive, legislature, and a supreme tribunal, and they pose
a number of questions that pertain to the relationship between the
institutions of the world government and the future role of the Universal
House of Justice. We provide the following comment.
Before addressing the specific questions raised by Mr. ... and Mr. ..., it
is useful to consider, in broad terms, the nature of the evolution of
systems of world government, the unfoldment of the Baha'i Administrative
Order into the World Order of Baha'u'llah, and the ultimate convergence of
these two evolutionary trends into the Baha'i World Commonwealth in the
Golden Age of the Faith.
World Government and the Universal House of Justice 2
Stages in the development of world government The letters of Shoghi Effendi
outline two stages in the development of world government. The first stage
in this evolution is the emergence of "a world superstate" which will be
associated with the establishment of the Lesser Peace. See "The Goal of a
New World Order" in "The World Order of Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters". The
"World Parliament" referred to in "The Promise of World Peace" is an
institution associated with this "superstate". In relation to the Lesser
Peace, it is interesting to note that Shoghi Effendi, in a letter dated 14
March 1939 written on his behalf, indicated that it "will come about through
the political efforts of the states and nations of the world, and
independently of any direct Baha'i plan or effort".
A second, more distant, stage in the evolution of a system of world
government, i.e. the "world commonwealth", is described in "The Unfoldment
of World Civilization", in the book "The World Order of Baha'u'llah". The
"world legislature" mentioned on p. 203 of this book is a term applied to
the institution which performs the legislative function in the Baha'i World
Commonwealth. This same term can also be applied to the "World Parliament"
associated with the Lesser Peace that was mentioned in the paragraph above.
The following extract from "The Promised Day Is Come" (Wilmette: Baha'i
Publishing Trust. 1980), p. 123. explicitly links not only the two stages in
the evolving world government but also allies them with the "New World
Order" of Baha'u'llah.
"To the general character, the implications and features of this world
commonwealth, destined to emerge, sooner or later, out of the carnage,
agony, and havoc of this great world convulsion. I have already referred in
my previous communications. Suffice it to say that this consummation will,
by its very nature, be a gradual process, and must, as Baha'u'llah has
Himself anticipated, lead at first to the establishment of that Lesser Peace
which the nations of the earth, as yet unconscious of His Revelation and yet
unwittingly enforcing the general principles which He has enunciated, will
themselves establish. This momentous and historic step, involving the
reconstruction of mankind, as the result of the universal recognition of its
oneness and wholeness, will bring in its wake the spiritualization of the
masses, consequent to the recognition of the character, and the
acknowledgment of the claims, of the Faith of Baha'u'llah -the essential
condition to that ultimate fusion of all races, creeds, classes, and nations
which must signalize the emergence of His New World Order."
Development of the World Order of Baha'u'llah
The development of Baha'ullah's New World Order, as outlined in the writings
of Shoghi Effendi. is an evolutionary process. In "The Unfoldment of World
Civilization", the World Order of Baha'u'llah is described as "evolving
within the framework of the Administrative Order of His Faith". The
Administrative Order precedes the emergence of the New World Order. For
example, it is referred to as. among other things, "the precursor, the
nucleus and pattern" of "that Order" and as the "sole framework" of the
"Baha'i Commonwealth of the future".
Shoghi Effendi also identifies a number of stages in the evolution of the
Faith. For instance, in "The Advent of Divine Justice" (Wilmette: Baha'i
Publishing Trust, 1984), p. 15, he refers to
World Government and the Universal House of Justice 3
...the successive stages of unmitigated obscurity, of active repression, and
of complete emancipation, leading in turn to its being acknowledged as an
independent Faith, enjoying the status of full equality with its sister
religions, to be followed by its establishment and recognition as a State
religion, which in turn must give way to its assumption of the rights and
prerogatives associated with the Baha'i state, functioning in the plenitude
of its powers, a stage which must ultimately culminate in the emergence of
the worldwide Baha'i Commonwealth, animated wholly by the spirit, and
operating solely in direct conformity with the laws and principles of
Baha'u'llah.
Further, in "Messages to the Baha'i World. 1950-1957" (Wilmette: Baha'i
Publishing Trust, 1971), p. 155, Shoghi Effendi refers to the anticipated
impetus to the development of the Faith provided by the World Crusade and he
designates the point in time when the Faith will begin to assume
responsibility for "religious and civil matters". The Guardian states:
"This present Crusade, on the threshold of which we now stand, will,
moreover, by virtue of the dynamic forces it will release and its wide
repercussions over the entire surface of the globe, contribute effectually
to the acceleration of yet another process of tremendous significance which
will carry the steadily evolving Faith of Baha'u'llah through its present
stages of obscurity, of repression, of emancipation and of recognition -
stages one or another of which Baha'i national communities in various parts
of the world now find themselves in - to the stage of establishment, the
stage at which the Faith of Baha'u'llah will be recognized by the civil
authorities as the state religion, similar to that which Christianity
entered in the years following the death of the Emperor Constantine. a stage
which must later be followed by the emergence of the Baha'i state itself,
functioning, in all religious and civil matters, in strict accordance with
the laws and ordinances of the Kitab-i-Aqdas. the Most Holy. the Mother-Book
of the Baha'i Revelation, a stage which, in the fullness of time. will
culminate in the establishment of the World Baha'i Commonwealth, functioning
in the plenitude of its powers, and which will signalize the long-awaited
advent of the Christ-promised Kingdom of God on earth - the Kingdom of
Baha'u'llah - mirroring however faintly upon this humble handful of dust the
glories of the Abha Kingdom".
Finally, in relation to the future of the Faith. Shoghi Effendi indicates
that it is
"...destined to attain, in the fullness of time. the status of a
world-embracing Commonwealth, which would be at once the instrument and the
guardian of the Most Great Peace announced by its Author." ("The World Order
of Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters", p. 196)
And, the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated 23 December 1985
written on its behalf to an individual believer states that
"...the interests of the entire world ... and those of the Faith are
destined to merge in the Most Great Peace."
World Government and the Universal House of Justice 4
Compilation
The Research Department has been able to find few references that pertain
specifically to the questions raised by Mr. ... and Mr. .... To assist them
in their study we attach a compilation of extracts from letters written by
and on behalf of the Universal House of Justice. These letters amplify
aspects of the evolution toward World Order and comment on the relationship
between the Baha'i institutions and the new institutions referred to in the
Guardian's letters. A number of important general points emerge from
consideration of these extracts, for example:
1. As mentioned earlier, the letters of Shoghi Effendi describe successive
stages in the evolution of the institutions of the Faith and their
relationship to the world at large. At the time of the establishment of the
Baha'i Commonwealth, of which the Universal House of Justice is the "supreme
organ", the House of Justice indicates that "the religious and secular
aspects are clearly merged into one set of institutions, i.e.. the
institutions of the World Order of Baha'u'llah". See extract 1.
2. The future "governmental functions" of the Houses of Justice have not
been clearly defined. See extract 2.
3. The nature of the relationship between the evolving World Order of
Baha'u'llah and the institutions of a "slowly awakening world" will require
further elucidation by the Universal House of Justice. Extracts 3 and 4
contain statements written on behalf of Shoghi Effendi concerning the
International Executive, the Universal Court of Arbitration and the
International Tribunal.
4. The process of evolution toward the Baha'i World Commonwealth is a long
and gradual one. See extracts 5 and 6.
5. While the Writings of the Faith contain many passages with "guidance
for the changing conditions under which the followers of Baha'u'llah will be
labouring during the passing centuries. ... it is not possible to see in
advance the details of how they will be applied". See extract 7.
Question 1: Relationship between the international legislature and the
Universal House of Justice.
In a letter dated 27 May 1966. published in "Wellspring of Guidance:
Messages 1963-1968" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1976), p. 90, the
House of Justice is described as both the "highest legislative body of the
Faith" and as the "supreme organ" of the Baha'i Commonwealth. The Universal
House of Justice has indicated that this system of government coincides with
the "Baha'i system". See extract 4 of attachment. Further the House of
Justice confirms that at the time of the establishment of the Baha'i
Commonwealth the "religious and secular aspects are clearly merged into one
set of institutions, i.e.. the institutions of the World Order of
Baha'u'llah." See extract 1.
World Government and the Universal House of Justice 5
Question 2: Enforcement of the laws of the Universal House of Justice on
the peoples of the world.
With regard to the question about the manner in which the laws of the
Universal House of Justice will be enforced on the peoples of the world,
this needs to be understood within the context of the gradual evolution of
the Faith and the emergence of the world commonwealth. From the extract from
"Messages to the Baha'i World, 1950-1957", p. 155, already cited, it is
clear that the "Baha'i state" will function, "in all religious and civil
matters, in strict accordance with the laws and ordinances in the
Kitab-i-Aqdas".
With respect to how the laws of the Universal House of Justice will be
enforced, information on this subject is fragmentary. It is interesting to
note that Abdu'1-Baha, in His Will and Testament (see "Will and Testament of
'Abdu'1-Baha" (Wilmette: Baha'i Publishing Trust, 1971). pp. 14-15). refers
to the fact that the Universal House of Justice enacts the laws and the
government enforces them. He states:
"This House of Justice enacteth the laws and the government enforceth them.
The legislative body must reinforce the executive, the executive must aid
and assist the legislative body so that through the close union and harmony
of these two forces, the foundation of fairness and justice may become firm
and strong, that all the regions of the world may become even as Paradise
itself."
Further, Shoghi Effendi, in a letter dated 18 April 1941 written on his
behalf in response to a question about the "government" referred to in the
above excerpt, provided the following clarification:
By "Government" ... is meant the executive body which will enforce the laws
when the Baha'i Faith has reached the point when it is recognized and
accepted entirely by any particular nation.
And, the Universal House of Justice in a letter dated 9 March 1977 written
on its behalf to an individual believer in response to a question about the
rights of the minority of non-Baha'i citizens in a Baha'i state indicated:
As to your question concerning the rights of the minority of non-Baha'i
citizens in a Baha'i state, it is clear from the writings of our Faith that
under a Baha'i system the rights of the minorities of any type must always
be respected and upheld. Just as Baha'is today show obedience and loyalty to
the government but refuse to bow to the majority if they are asked to deny
their Faith, so in the future, when the majority is represented by the Faith
the Baha'is will not force the minority to become followers of Baha'u'llah
but they will expect the minority to be similarly obedient and loyal.
The ultimate safeguard in the Faith of Baha'u'llah to ensure that this
principle and all its other fundamental tenets are not violated is the
Universal House of Justice, which, as its Constitution clearly stipulates,
is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of the
teachings and of safeguarding their inviolability.
World Government and the Universal House of Justice 6
Question 3: Sacred order and secular order
Mr. ... and Mr. ... make reference to the historical Western model of the
division between church and state. They enquire whether or not it is valid,
in the Baha'i model, to draw a distinction between a sacred order (the
Baha'i Commonwealth) and a secular order (the political institutions of the
world). From the foregoing discussions, it is apparent that the sacred and
secular begin to merge with the emergence of the Baha'i' state and that, by
the time of the establishment of the world commonwealth, the "religious and
secular aspects are clearly merged into one set of institutions".
The historical division between church and state which characterizes the
Western model of government provides a means for preserving a clear
distinction between the religious and political powers in society and for
curbing any unwarranted interference of the church in the affairs of the
state. Such provisions were particularly relevant to the relations between
church and state during the late Middle Ages and the Reformation. It is
suggested that, as part of their research, Mr. ... and Mr. ... might give
some attention to a consideration of the uniqueness of the Baha'i system
and the provisions it contains for avoiding the problems and difficulties
associated with other religious and governmental systems. In this regard
they may well be familiar with the material contained in "The World Order of
Baha'u'llah: Selected Letters", pp. 18-22 and pp. 152-54.
END
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EXTRACTS FROM LETTERS WRITTEN BY AND ON BEHALF OF THE UNIVERSAL HOUSE OF
JUSTICE ON EVOLUTION TOWARDS WORLD ORDER
"You have also asked whether the institutions of the Faith will in the
future only concern themselves with the spiritual affairs of the community
or whether they will also be engaged in matters of state and be identical
with the civil government. We have been asked to state that a careful
reading of the words of the beloved Guardian will reveal that what you
describe are two future stages in the development of the Faith. Thus, he
wrote: "Not only will the present-day Spiritual Assemblies be styled
differently in future, but they will be enabled also to add to their present
functions those powers, duties, and prerogatives necessitated by the
recognition of the Faith of Baha'u'llah, not merely as one of the recognized
religious systems of the world, but as the State Religion of an independent
and Sovereign Power." ("The World Order of Baha'u'llah", pp. 6-7)
The statement quoted above envisages the development of the institutions of
the Faith purely as agencies conducting the affairs of the community of the
followers of Baha'u'llah. In "The Advent of Divine Justice" (p. 12).
however, Shoghi Effendi goes beyond the stage when the Faith becomes the
"State Religion". This stage, he explains, "...must give way to its
assumption of the rights and prerogatives associated with the Baha'i state,
functioning in the plenitude of its powers, a stage which must ultimately
culminate in the emergence of the
world-
wide Baha'i Commonwealth, animated wholly by the spirit, and operating
solely in direct conformity with the laws and principles of Baha'u'llah".
This last stage is described in slightly different terms in the following
words of Shoghi Effendi: "And as the Baha'i Faith permeates the masses of
the peoples of East and West, and its truth is embraced by the majority of
the peoples of a number of the Sovereign States of the world, will the
Universal House of Justice attain the plenitude of its power, and exercise,
as the supreme organ of the Baha'i Commonwealth, all the rights, the duties,
and responsibilities incumbent upon the world's future superstate." (Cf.
"The World Order of Baha'u'llah", p. 7) It is obvious that in these last
stages the religious and secular aspects are clearly merged into one set of
institutions, i.e., the institutions of the World Order of Baha'u'llah. This
concept is further confirmed by Shoghi Effendi when he clearly states that
the "Administrative Order" will in the future "assert its claim and
demonstrate its capacity to be regarded not only as the nucleus but the very
pattern of the New World Order destined to embrace in the fullness of time
the whole of mankind". ("The World Order of Baha'u'llah", p. 144) (9 March
1977 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an individual
believer) [Extract 1, fn1]
In answer to your question on future governmental functions of Houses of
Justice, ... we have been directed to quote the following from two letters
written on behalf of the Guardian to individual believers:
[fn1]This extract appears on p. 15 of the 1984 edition of "The Advent of
Divine Justice".
Page 2.
"The Baha'is will be called upon to assume the reins of government when they
will come to constitute the majority of the population in a given country,
and even then their participation in political affairs is bound to be
limited in scope unless they obtain a similar majority in some other
countries as well."
"You asked regarding the status of the different governments when the House
of Justice will be established: this is not fully explained in the
teachings, and what is not definitely provided for, it is for the House of
Justice to legislate upon once that body is formed.
The Universal House of Justice points out that as the World Order of
Baha'u'llah unfolds, these points will become clearer to the believers, and
at this time it does not wish to go beyond what Shoghi Effendi has already
expounded in his letters. (8 January 1979 written on behalf of the Universal
House of Justice to an individual believer) [Extract 2]
"Your last question concerns the relationship of the evolving World Order of
Baha'u'llah to the institutions of a slowly awakening world. The following
three extracts from letters written on behalf of the Guardian to individual
believers should prove helpful to your study of this subject.
"As regards the International Executive referred to by the Guardian in his
"Goal of a New World Order", it should be noted that this statement refers
by no means to the Baha'i Commonwealth of the future, but simply to that
world government which will herald the advent and lead to the final
establishment of the World Order of Baha'u'llah. The formation of this
International Executive, which corresponds to the executive head or board in
present-day national governments, is but a step leading to the Baha'i world
government of the future, and hence should not be identified with either the
institution of the Guardianship or that of the International House of
Justice." (March 17. 1934)
"The Universal Court of Arbitration and the International Tribunal are the
same. When the Baha'i State will be established they will be merged in the
Universal House of Justice." (17 June 1933)
"You asked regarding the status of the different governments when the House
of Justice will be established: this is not fully explained in the
teachings, and what is not definitely provided for, it is for the House of
Justice to legislate upon once that body is formed." (12 January 1933) (5
July 1982 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an
individual believer) [Extract 3]
"...the five questions which arose concerning the world legislature, the
world executive, and the world tribunal during your study of the letters of
the beloved Guardian collected and published under the title of "The World
Order of Baha'u'llah" have been conveyed to us.
Regarding the five questions you have asked, it is clear from the text on
pages 203-204 of "The World Order of Baha'u'llah" that the system the
Guardian is describing is the Baha'i system under which "the causes of
religious strife will be permanently removed", and "whose life is sustained
by its universal recognition of one God and by its allegiance to one common
Revelation." In support of his theme. Shoghi Effendi quotes Abdul-Baha's
statement "that all nations and kindreds will be gathered together under the
Shadow of this Divine Banner...".
As to the relationships of these three bodies, on page 7 of "The World Order
of Baha'u'llah" the Guardian has referred to the Universal House of Justice
as "the supreme organ of the Baha'i Commonwealth".
We have so far also noted in Shoghi Effendi's writings two other
elucidations which we share with you.
"Touching the point raised in the Secretary's letter regarding the nature
and scope of the Universal Court of Arbitration, this and other similar
matters will have to be explained and elucidated by the Universal House of
Justice, to which, according to the Master's explicit Instructions, all
important and fundamental questions must be referred." ("Baha'i
Administration", p. 47).
"The Universal Court of Arbitration and the International Tribunal are the
same. When the Baha'i State will be established they will be merged in the
Universal House of Justice. (Letter to an individual believer, dated June
17. 1933, Written on the Guardian's behalf by his secretary).
The Universal House of Justice at this time does not wish to go beyond the
general guidelines found in the Writings. When the time is ripe, however, it
will have to provide further necessary elucidations." (23 June 1971 from the
Universal House of Justice to a Local Spiritual Assembly) [Extract 4]
As you are no doubt aware, the Guardian indicated that the development of
mankind from its present chaotic condition to the stage of the Baha'i World
Commonwealth would be a long and gradual one. The coming into existence of a
World Authority and the initiation of the Lesser Peace constitute one major
transformation in this process, and will be followed by other stages of the
development of the Faith as outlined by Shoghi Effendi in his writings.
Undoubtedly, as these developments are taking place, the counsel the
institutions of the Faith can give to governments, the pattern of world
administration offered by the Baha'i community and the great humanitarian
projects which will be launched under the aegis of the Universal House of
Justice will exercise a great influence on the course of progress. (19
January 1983 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an
individual believer) [Extract 5]
"The Universal House of Justice has received your letter of 13 December 1984
inquiring about the Lesser Peace and the Supreme Tribunal referred to in the
writings of the Faith. We are asked to convey the following comments.
Baha'u'llah's principal mission in appearing at this time in human history
is the realization of the oneness of mankind and the establishment of peace
among the nations; therefore, all the forces which are focused on
accomplishing these ends are influenced by His Revelation. We know. however,
that peace will come in stages. First, there will come the Lesser Peace,
when the unity of nations will be achieved, then gradually the Most Great
Peace - the spiritual as well as social and political unity of mankind, when
the Baha'i World Commonwealth, operating in strict accordance with the laws
and ordinances of the Most Holy Book of the Baha'i Revelation, will have
been established through the efforts of the Baha'is.
As to the Lesser Peace. Shoghi Effendi has explained that this will
initially be a political unity arrived at by decision of the governments of
various nations; it will not be established by direct action of the Baha'i
community. This does not mean. however, that the Baha'is are standing aside
and waiting for the Lesser Peace to come before they do something about the
peace of mankind. Indeed, by promoting the principles of the Faith, which
are indispensable to the maintenance of peace, and by fashioning the
instruments of the Baha'i Administrative Order, which we are told by the
beloved Guardian is the pattern for future society, the Baha'is are
constantly engaged in laying the groundwork for a permanent peace, the Most
Great Peace being their ultimate goal.
The Lesser Peace itself will pass through stages; at the initial stage the
governments will act entirely on their own without the conscious involvement
of the Faith; later on, in God's good time, the Faith will have a direct
influence on it in ways indicated by Shoghi Effendi in his "The Goal of a
New World Order". In connection with the steps that will lead to this latter
stage, the Universal House of Justice will certainly determine what has to
be done, in accordance with the guidance in the Writings, such as the
passage you quoted from "Tablets of Baha'u'llah", page 89. In the meantime,
the Baha'is will undoubtedly continue to do all in their power to promote
the establishment of peace. (31 January 1985 written on behalf of the
Universal House of Justice to an individual believer) [Extract 6]
"The process leading to the ultimate achievement in all its aspects of "the
world-wide sovereignty of Baha'u'llah". the establishment in its fullness of
His New World Order, will necessarily be a long one, and the world during
that time will pass through many stages. The details of that process cannot
now be discerned. Only through the passage of time and the enactments of the
Universal House of Justice can such details be gradually unfolded before the
eyes of the friends and of the world.
There are in the Sacred Texts and in the writings of Shoghi Effendi passages
replete with guidance for the changing conditions under which the followers
of Baha'u'llah will be labouring during the passing centuries, but it is not
possible to see in advance the details of how they will be applied. The
eternal verities, the laws and guiding principles of the Faith are, however,
clearly revealed for all to see. and it will be in accordance with these,
and through the power of the Covenant, which Abdu'1-Baha called "the axis of
the oneness of the world of humanity", that the Cause will advance. (26
November 1979 written on behalf of the Universal House of Justice to an
individual believer) [Extract 7]
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