From Oppression to Empowerment

Abstract

This article discusses the Bahá’í understanding of the nature of oppression. The first section identifies and discusses four main contemporary types of oppression involving the international political order, forms of the state, economic structures, and forms of cultural identity. The second section explores Bahá’u’lláh’s personal response to oppression in the form of His three historic declarations. The final section draws implications from the previous discussions in order to identify features of a Bahá’í approach to empowerment and liberation from oppression.