Despotism
Bahá'í Administrative Order cannot degenerate into any form of despotism[edit]
"The admitted evils inherent in each of these systems being rigidly and permanently excluded, this unique Order, however long it may endure and however extensive its ramifications, cannot ever degenerate into any form of despotism, of oligarchy, or of demagogy which must sooner or later corrupt the machinery of all man-made and essentially defective political institutions."
Despotism of former governments will not answer call for freedom[edit]
"Will the despotism of former governments answer the call for freedom which has risen from the heart of humanity in this cycle of illumination? It is evident that no vital results are now forthcoming from the customs, institutions and standpoints of the past."
Casting aside centralization and promoting despotism is the exigency of the time[edit]
"Question: Is it not a fact that universal peace cannot be accomplished until there is political democracy in all the countries of the world?
"Answer: It is very evident that in the future there shall be no centralization in the countries of the world, be they constitutional in government, republican or democratic in form. The United States may be held up as the example of future government--that is to say, each province will be independent in itself, but there will be federal union protecting the interests of the various independent states. It may not be a republican or a democratic form. To cast aside centralization which promotes despotism is the exigency of the time. This will be productive of international peace.
Despotism's persistence reveals how unsatisfactory the current relationship between individuals and institutions are[edit]
"...the persistence of despotism, on the one hand, and the increasing disregard for authority, on the other, reveal how unsatisfactory to a maturing humanity is the current relationship between the individual and the institutions of society"
- (Universal House of Justice, 2 March 2013, to the Bahá'ís of Iran, at https://www.bahai.org/library/authoritative-texts/the-universal-house-of-justice/messages/20130302_001/20130302_001.pdf )
