Society and Culture
Bahá’í Articles and Websites

Last Revised: April 2014

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• Arbab, F. (1987). Process of social transformation. In The Baha'i Faith and Marxism. Ottawa, ON: Bahá'í Studies Publication. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/arbab_social_transformation 
  Baha'i concepts of social change contrasted with other common paradigms.
• Buchinder, H. (1987). Strategies and processes of social change. In The Baha'i Faith and Marxism. Ottawa, ON: Bahá'í Studies Publication. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/buchbinder_social_change
• Hanson, H. (1993). Overview of Bahá'í social and economic development. Bahá'í World, 21. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/hanson_social_economic_development
  Evolution of Bahá'í involvement in social and economic development, and some current projects.
• van den Hoonaard, W. C. (2008). Emergence from obscurity: The journey of sociology in the Bahá’í community. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 18. Retrieved from http://bahai-library.com/hoonaard_journey_sociology
  The field of sociology and the Bahá’í Faith share important principles and both challenge widely-held beliefs, yet there has sometimes been a wall of silence separating them. This paper explores how the Faith informs the sociology of Baha'i scholars.

II.  Human Nature

• Hatcher, W. (1987). Human nature and human society: A Baha'i viewpoint. In The Baha'i Faith and Marxism. Ottawa, ON: Bahá'í Studies Publication. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/hatcher_human_nature_society 
  Introduction to the Bahá'í understanding of human beings and social structures.
• Vance, D. C. (2002). The same yet different: Creating unity among the diverse members of the Bahá’í Faith. Journal of Intergroup Relations (a publication of the National Association of Human Rights Workers, 29(4). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/vance_unity_consultation_diversity

III. Human Rights

• Curtotti, M. (2001). Human rights: Reflections from a Bahá’í vewpoint. In Human rights, faith, and culture: Proceedings of the Australian Bahá’í Studies Conference, 7-8 November 1998, Canberra, Australia. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/curtotti_human_rights
• Farhoumand-Sims, C/ (2001). The universal declaration of human rights, cultural relativism and the persecution of the Bahá’ís in Iran. In T. Tahniriha-Danesh (Ed.), Bahá’í-Inspired Perspectives on Human Rights. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/farhoumand-sims_cultural_relativism_persecution
• Hassall, G. (2001). Rights to human and social development: A survey of the activities of the Bahá’í international community. In T. Tahniriha-Danesh (Ed.), Bahá’í-Inspired Perspectives on Human Rights. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/hassall_human_social_development
• Patrick, J. 2001). An examination of the cultural relativity of human rights. Associate, 36. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/patrick_relativity_human_rights
  On the discourse between proponents of the universality of human rights, and those of their cultural and religious relativity. Are human rights inherent in the individual, or imposed by a neo-imperialist West?
• Schweitz, M. (2001). Rights and responsibilities in the Bahá’í world order: From “me” to “us” — Confronting the fear. In T. Tahniriha-Danesh (Ed.), Bahá’í-inspired Perspectives on Human Rights. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/schweitz_rights_bahai_world
• Thomas, J. (2008). The rise of justice in the spiritual and secular life of man: excerpts from The Advent of Divine Justice by Shoghi Effendi. In Lights of Irfan, 9. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/thomas_justice_life_man

• Dahl, G. (1991). Evolving toward a Bahá’í economic system. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 4(3). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/dahl_bahai_economic_system
  Ideals are fruitless if not implemented. There needs to be a balance and an interplay between goals and actions. A "Bahá’í economic system" suggests a number of topics for further research.
• Fish, M. (1997). Economic prosperity: A global imperative. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 7(3). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/fish_economic_prosperity
  Economic growth does not necessarily enhance human welfare. The Prosperity of Humankind recognizes the role of economics in igniting the capacity of humankind. The Baha'i concept of human nature opens a dialogue between religion and economists.
• Moane, E. (2001). Perspectives on the global economy at the dawn of the 21st century: An Irish Bahá’í view. Solas, 1. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/moane_economy_irish_view
  The state and issues of the global economy, including Ireland, at the start of the 21st century. Though not intended to be a general Bahá’í critique of the world economy, the paper concludes with a Bahá’í contribution to the issues raised.
• Rodey, B. (2001). The spiritual dimensions of microfinance: Towards a just civilization and sustainable economy..Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/rodey_spiritual_dimenions_microfinance
  Prepared for the Microcredit Summit to emphasize the importance of universal spiritual principles to achieve the real benefits of microfinance services
• Suter, K. (1996). Economic justice and the creation of a new international economic order In 75 Years of the Bahá'í Faith in Australasia: Proceedings of the Australian Bahá’í Studies Conference, 1996, Canberra, Australia.. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/suter_economic_justice
  The "New Right," history of economic philosophy and the role of the Church in Europe, challenges of the global economy, the failure of the UN to deal with the problems of the globalized economy, and how NGOs and individuals can work for economic justice.
• Zahrai, M. (1998). A spiritual approach to microcredit projects. Presentation at the European Bahá’í Business Forum, Paris, 1998. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/zahrai_spiritual_approach_microcredit
  Spiritual considerations that should guide the elaboration and implementation of microcredit schemes and measure their success.

• Huddleston, J. (1987). Just system of government: The third dimension to world peace. In The Baha'i Faith and Marxism. Ottawa, ON: Bahá'í Studies Publication. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/huddleston_just_system_government
  Highlights a few points in the Bahá'í approach to government and collective action.
• McGee, R. (1999). Is it unethical to evade taxes in an evil or corrupt state?: A look at Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Mormon and Baha'i perspectives. Journal of Accounting, Ethics & Public Policy, 2(1). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/mcgee_unethical_evade_taxes
  The ethics of tax evasion has been a neglected topic in both the accounting and ethical literature. This article reviews the recent literature, focusing on the question of whether tax evasion is ethical in a corrupt country.

• Kingdon, G. (2002). Education of women and socio-economic development. In S. Fazel & J. Danesh (Eds.), Reason and revelation: Studies in the Babi and Baha'i religions, 13. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/kingdon_education_women_development
  The findings of recent research on the social and the economic benefits of female education, which provides insights as to why Bahá'u'lláh stressed its importance.
• Woodman, M. (1989). The role of the feminine in the new era. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 2(1). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/woodman_role_feminine_era

• Buck, C., & Locke, A. (2005). Alain Locke: Race leader, social philosopher, Bahá'í pluralist. World Order 36(3), 7-36. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/buck_locke_article_essays

• Damore, L. (2001). Peace and prosperity. Presentation at the European Bahá’í Business Forum, Paris, 1998. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/damore_peace_prosperity
• Lepard, B. (2003). Protecting the human family: Humanitarian intervention, international law, and Bahá’í principles. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 13(1-4). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/lepard_protecting_human_family
• Stockman, R. (2001). The unity principle: Ideas of social concord and discord in the Bahá’í Faith. In J. Gittler (Ed.), Research in human social conflict, Volume 2. Westview, CT: JAI Press. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/stockman_unity_principle

• Karlberg, M. (1994). Toward a new environmental stewardship. World Order, 25(4), 21-32. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/karlberg_new_environmental_stewardship
• Landau, R. (2002). The Baha'i Faith and the environment. In P. Timmerman (d.), Encyclopedia of global environmental change, volume 5: Social and economic dimensions of global environmental change. Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/landau_bahai_faith_environment
  Participation of the Baha'i International Community in UN-sponsored development and environmental initiatives for resolving the difficult challenges before humanity.
• Steere, J. (2005). Ecological stewardship as applied spirituality: A Bahá'í perspective. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 15(1-4). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/steer_steere_ecological_stewardship
  The significance and dimensions of environmental stewardship — the name given to the emerging practice of habitation restoration, land conservation, resource management, and parks and recreation — and its relationship to the Bahá’í teachings.
• White, R. (1995). Spiritual foundations for an ecologically sustainable society. Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 7(2). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/white_ecologically_sustainable_society

• Abizadeh, S. (2005). Will globalization lead to a world  commonwealth? Journal of Bahá'í Studies, 15(1-4). Retrieved December 2013, from http://bahai-library.com/abizadeh_globalization_commonwealth

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