When the light of Baha’u’llah broke upon the world, humanity was completing an age-old journey that had travelled from family to community to city state, and most recently the experience of nation state.
This process is to be followed by the unification of the entire planet, a process progressively gradually effected though application of the principle of Unity in Diversity.
The core Teachings of Baha’u’llah answer the issues that have been the cause of so much bloodshed and separation, establishing such essential themes as the oneness of God and of religion, and the oneness of humanity. He stated:
That which the Lord hath ordained as the sovereign remedy and mightiest instrument for the healing of all the world is the union of all its peoples in one universal Cause, one common Faith. - Baha’u’llah
A recent report of the Bahai International Community states; 'As the world grows more interconnected and as the imperative to unite humanity becomes ever more strongly felt, systems of global governance need to evolve.
This idea is at the core of an award-winning proposal to reshape global governance, put forward by three Baha’is who specialize in aspects of governance in international affairs.
“Many of the problems we face are global in nature. They cannot be solved without some kind of stronger mechanism of international cooperation,” says Augusto Lopez-Claros, an international economist and co-author of the proposal.
The United Nations provides a foundation for global governance, but the proposal makes a case for a stronger international governing body. The proposal outlines a mechanism with two legislative bodies: one with national representatives and the second with delegates who represent particular global issues, such as the environment, human rights, and others.
It would also include a strengthened executive branch with an international security force, as well as a well-trained international judiciary that regularly makes binding decisions.
This proposal was one of three winners of the New Shape Prize from the Global Challenges Foundation, a non-profit organization that aims to stimulate discussions on systems for managing global risks.
The over-riding necessity of our age is to heal our conflicts and reconcile our differences. The greatest of these challenges, and the core focus of all Bahai teachings, is finally within the grasp of all humanity; the development of one universal religion, one common Faith.