Social and Economic Development

From the point of view of social and economic development, the most interesting feature of Bahá'í community life is its unique consultative system. Bahá'u'lláh taught a pattern of group decision-making based on a striving for consensus. It would be accurate to say that most members of the Bahá'í Faith are, to one degree or another, students of the consultative process .

A Bahá'í school in Panama.

The social and economic development possibilities of this system first became apparent early in this century in Iran where Iranian Bahá'ís created their own schools, clinics, and other social services, including Iran's first school for girls.

Today, development projects proliferate, especially throughout Asia, Latin America, and Africa. They include tutorial schools, local clinics, classes in health care, agricultural projects, reforestation, alcoholism counselling, and children's hostels. The community service programming of Bahá'í radio stations embraces not only such practical concerns but also the recognition of native culture.

Arising out of the assessment of local needs by locally elected Spiritual Assemblies, Bahá'í development projects are essentially grassroots undertakings. It is no doubt that this fact accounts for the self-sustaining character of so much of the work.

Social and Economic Development