Discourse

A discourse is a present, ongoing conversation occurring between the members of a social space on a particular topic. Discourse can happen at many levels of intensity, formality, scope, and visibility; for instance, an intimate personal conversation on a topic between two friends and a highly publicized international conference on the same topic are both legitimate venues for discourse. Discourses in any given society may include the participation of prominent people such as leaders of government and government officers, journalists, clergy, scholars, and professionals; less prominent individuals may also be involved personally or collectively.

Bahá’ís participate in the discourses of society in various ways, acting both as individuals and in official capacities as members of Bahá’í institutions. This may happen incidentally as part of their participation in community-building activities or in the life of their local community, through their efforts for social action, or through their studies, occupations, or professional activities. As well, Bahá’í-inspired organizations commonly contribute to discourse on aspects of social and economic development related to their mission.

At the national level, agencies of National Spiritual Assemblies aim to involve themselves in discourse by sharing the experience of Bahá’ís in their country and promoting ideas and principles conducive to public welfare. Offices of Public Affairs often center their efforts on certain focus areas, such as the role of religion in public life, social cohesion, gender equality and the advancement of women, economic or racial justice, reconciliation between peoples or tribes, citizenship and diversity, climate change and protection of the environment, freedom of religion or belief, or the role of media in society.

At the international level, the Bahá’í International Community (BIC) represents the Bahá’ís of the world in a variety of fora, including the United Nations (including the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF)), the European Union (EU), the African Union (AU), and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), among others. The BIC's focus areas include realizing the equality of women and men, human rights and the well-being of humankind, development and community-building, youth as protagonists of constructive change, and religion in the life of society. Due to the harsh state-sponsored persecution of the Bahá’ís of Iran which largely precludes recourse to existing systems of justice in that country, many Bahá’í agencies around the world also involve themselves in advocacy on their behalf.

See also

• Social action