stage of adolescence, when the impetuosity of youth and its
vehemence reach their climax, and must gradually be superseded by the
calmness, the wisdom, and the maturity that characterize the stage of
manhood.(60)

Deliberation on this vast conception was to lead Shoghi Effendi to provide
the Baha'i world with a coherent description of the future that has since
permitted three generations of believers to articulate for governments,
media and the general public in every part of the world the perspective in
which the Baha'i Faith pursues its work:

The unity of the human race, as envisaged by Baha'u'llah, implies the
establishment of a world commonwealth in which all nations, races, creeds
and classes are closely and permanently united, and in which the autonomy
of its state members and the personal freedom and initiative of the
individuals that compose them are definitely and completely safeguarded.
This commonwealth must, as far as we can visualize it, consist of a world
legislature, whose members will, as the trustees of the whole of mankind,
ultimately control the entire resources of all the component nations, and
will enact such laws as shall be required to regulate the life, satisfy
the needs and adjust the relationships of all races and peoples. A world
executive, backed by an international Force, will carry out the decisions
arrived at, and apply the laws enacted by, this world legislature, and
will safeguard the organic unity of the whole commonwealth. A world
tribunal will adjudicate and deliver its compulsory and final verdict in
all and any disputes that may arise between the various elements
constituting this universal system.... The economic resources of the world
will be organized, its sources of raw materials will be tapped and fully
utilized, its markets will be cooerdinated and developed, and the
distribution of its products will be equitably regulated.(61)

Writing a definitive interpretation of the Administrative Order in "The
Dispensation of Baha'u'llah", Shoghi Effendi made particular reference to
the role that the institution he himself represented would play in
enabling the Cause "to take a long, an uninterrupted view over a series of
generations...." This unique endowment expressed itself with particular
clarity in his description of the dual nature of the historical process
that he saw unfolding in the twentieth century. The landscape of
international affairs would, he said, be increasingly resh