Foundations Of Social Development

The upcoming World Summit for Social Development, scheduled to be held in Copenhagen in March, promises to be historic for its focus on the well-being of people, instead of the welfare of states.

"It's the first time in history that heads of state will come together to discuss the problems of ordinary people -- questions of poverty, unemployment, of violence, social tension, problems in our streets and in our inner cities -- in a practical way," said Ambassador Juan Somavia, chairman of the Summit's Preparatory Committee.

As they stand now, the Summit's main documents are already historic, offering a startling testament on the degree to which nations concur on the scope and depth of worldwide social problems.

The documents, for example, look to free markets and democratic institutions -- along with strong assistance from the organizations of civil society -- as being among the primary mechanisms for encouraging social development. Given the huge ideological gap that sundered the world just a few years ago, this development is amazing.

Also somewhat startling, given the largely secular nature of world politics, is the way the Summit's draft documents take note of the importance of spirituality in addressing social problems. Just three paragraphs into the draft Declaration, for example, governments "acknowledge that our societies must respond more effectively to the material and spiritual needs of individuals, their families and communities in which they live throughout our diverse countries and regions."

In this light, encouragement should be given to governments -- and organizations of civil society and the media -- to go farther in exploring the connection between spiritual insight and material progress. For unless the spiritual reality of humankind is considered in any program of social action, progress will be fitful at best.

Spiritual qualities and social development are deeply connected. Qualities like love, faith, hope, compassion and altruism have been fostered by the world's great religious teachers, providing the motive impulse for social advancement. Indeed, throughout history, religion has been connected with the social advance and development of the world's great civilizations. It is impossible, for example, to understand the development of Europe without Christianity; to comprehend Arabia without Islam; or to know India without Hinduism.

What is needed at this point in history is a new and unifying vision of spirituality and human nature which can provide a moral framework for the revitalization of humanity on a global scale -- and a concomitant structure for addressing our interconnected and worldwide social problems.

Although the following theme has been addressed on these pages many times before, we would like nevertheless to suggest again that the beginnings of such a framework can be found in the spiritual principle of the "oneness of humanity."

A genuine appreciation of the oneness of humanity reveals that human life on this planet is an organic whole, interrelated and integrated by our dependence on each other not only for food, shelter and health, but also for culture, ideas, and human relationships.

It also shows us that all prejudices based on race, nation, class, ethnicity or sex are ephemeral and must be discarded.

The oneness of humanity, when fully understood, also tells us that all peoples -- and all individuals -- not only have universal human rights, but also universal capacities and capabilities. It informs us that these capacities and capabilities must be developed if humanity is to progress and prosper.

It is on this point, of encouraging the development of individual capacities and capabilities especially, that those concerned with the core issues of the Social Summit -- eradicating poverty, increasing productive employment, and enhancing social integration -- have the most to gain from a greater understanding of the spiritual dimension of human reality.

Ultimately, neither governments, nor even the organizations of civil society -- however high-minded their programs and projects -- will alone solve global social problems. In the end, these problems will be resolved only as people around the world develop their own individual capacities and capabilities -- and apply them in ways that are guided by a strong moral vision, tempered with fresh spiritual insights, and focused by innovative new social structures.

Productive and meaningful employment, for example, will only be widely achieved when individuals come to understand that work is a form of service to humanity (and worship of the Creator), and not merely the means to personal enrichment. In a global environment where many young people today drift with no sense of purpose in their lives, such a starting point becomes ever more important.

Poverty will only be completely and finally eradicated when individuals come to appreciate the degree to which the Creator, in creating us all "from the same dust," desires that humankind should be "even as one soul, to walk with the same feet, eat with the same mouth and dwell in the same land..." Once this spiritual imperative is embraced, it will be unthinkable for anyone to allow his or her neighbor to go wanting.

And genuine tolerance of others -- a key imperative of the Summit's call for social integration -- flows not from new legislation but from the development in every individual of a real appreciation of the value and spiritual dignity of every other individual in the world.



In Turkmenistan, the Bahá'í community was invited to a reception hosted by the nation's president. About 500 representatives of various religious groups attended.


Each of these insights stems from a comprehension of the spiritual principle of the oneness of humanity, which is today the driving force behind the planet-wide integration of humanity. Ultimately, it will be understood that human oneness derives from the oneness of creation -- which itself reflects the oneness of the Creator.

Trying to address spirituality in a secular world -- however badly it is needed -- will not be easy. Many people do not recognize the value or even the existence of the spiritual dimension. At one point in the preparation of the draft Declaration and Program of Action this fall, nearly all of the references to spirituality had been edited out. They were restored and others were added after the intercessional meeting in October.

An unbiased analysis of the great social problems facing our global society today will reveal that our collective failure to pay heed to the new spiritual realities of our day stands at the foundation of many of our most egregious problems.

The fact that the world's richest nations, which have perhaps most closely embraced secular materialism, are coming to Copenhagen with severe social problems indeed offers persuasive evidence that something more is needed than merely a fine-tuning of the old paradigm.


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