Structure of Power in the Baha’i Administrative Order

Mr. Gagnon’s thesis is: “Contrary to other forms of social organization, the Bahá’í Faith contains strictures to prevent the struggle for power within and between” Bahá’í institutions.  He goes on to review the nature of “power” and how it is wielded within the Bahá’í administrative structure. In secular political organizations individuals often wield an unusual degree of personal power. In  Bahá’í administrative institutions power is vested solely in the institutions. He contrasts the nature of secular political elections with that of the Bahá’í electoral process. A significant point is that elected Baha’is are not “accountable to their electorate”.