ADDIS ABABA — A new statement jointly published by the Bahá’í International Community’s Addis Ababa and Brussels Offices emphasizes the implications of interdependence grounded in the oneness of humanity, calling for an expanded notion of social progress that values every individual’s contribution and redefines development as a collective enterprise.
Titled “For the Well-Being of All: Embracing a New Foundational Paradigm on the 25th Anniversary of the AU–EU Partnership,” the statement was released ahead of the African Union and European Union’s seventh summit, which took place in Angola earlier this week.
The statement explores the historical forces that have shaped both Africa and Europe and the relationship between the two continents, highlighting that assumptions and approaches constituting the foundation of this partnership must be reassessed in light of the principle of the humanity’s essential oneness to address “power imbalances and establish a truly equal partnership.”
In a conversation with the News Service, Shemona Moonilal, a representative of the BIC’s Addis Ababa Office stated: “One key prerequisite for a flourishing relationship is an expanded notion of social progress, one which includes, but transcends increased economic activity. Every region has both pressing challenges to address, as well as valuable insights to offer.”
The statement highlights how prevalent approaches to policymaking often assume that relentless growth and competition are the primary drivers of social well-being; however, economic and political models built on this assumption continue to fall short of meeting humanity’s collective needs.
In place of relentless growth and competition, the statement reads: “Building capacity within citizens and organizations of society to systematically apply scientific, practical, and moral knowledge to promote the well-being of individuals and communities is itself a hallmark of a maturing society, not simply a means to greater material output.”
Drawing on the experience of Bahá’í communities across Africa and Europe, the statement notes that community building efforts are cultivating “capacities in individuals that enable them to analyze social issues and circumstances, to make meaningful decisions aimed at promoting the well-being of all, and to apply principles in action aimed at addressing societal challenges.”
The statement proposes three principles that can be practically applied in fostering the AU-EU partnership: the acknowledgement and application of the oneness of humanity as the foundation of the partnership; the establishment of joint consultative processes so as to enable the aspirations and knowledge of people most affected by the partnership’s programs to be integrated into the design of plans and policies; the development of a framework which systematically builds the capacities of a population, measuring growth not only through numbers but through the agency of a community equipped to navigate its own social progress.
Alessandro Benedetti, a representative of the BIC’s Brussels Office, said: “Any attempt to bring long term solutions to the profound challenges facing humanity will remain a distant hope without the principle of oneness.”
The joint Statement of the BIC Addis Ababa and Brussels Offices can be found here.
