The importance of a strong national unity for the state – any state – is not hidden from the contemplator of the dimensions and role of this unity. Perhaps the most important features of this importance, being:
– Protects the home front from enemy incursions, which may disturb the peace of the homeland and its people.
– Supporting the development and development of the concerned country, and assisting in its advancement.
Supports the status – and reputation – of the state on the international arena, and helps it achieve the objectives of its internal and external policies.
In the following, let us shed some light on the role of national unity, and its importance, in the international arena in particular, that the “power” of any country is: what it possesses of elements of strength, influence, and superiority, compared to other countries. The extent of the strength of any state is determined by the “extent” of what it possesses of the six main elements of power, namely: the state’s political-administrative system, geographical location, quantity and type of population, natural resources, technical and industrial capabilities, and military capabilities. The population element includes: the extent of fusion, cohesion, and solidarity of these populations among themselves, and between them and their government.. Or: the extent of their national unity.
Countries of the world vary – of course – in the extent of power… according to the varying availability of "elements" of force from one country to another, and from time to time. This disparity led to the theoretical division of the countries of the world – based on the extent of their strength – into seven types… starting with the superpower, then the great one, then the great one, then the medium one, then the small one, then the smallest one, and ending with the "statelet". And the extent of the strength of any country – especially the element of its political system and national unity – is what determines: the extent of its ability and the solidity of its position, and explains the extent of its influence in the world. It also determines – in the end – the extent of what you get (from other countries) of the benefits that you want. Or in other words, the extent of its ability to achieve its foreign policy goals in particular.
And since international relations prevail in "chaos"… that is, there is no supreme authority (a world government) to which it is arbitrated, whose decisions are binding, and possesses appropriate means of coercion, almost every country tries to take from other countries the maximum benefits that can be taken. (She calls it interests), and as far as its power allows it, and enables it to possess it.. despite the presence of formal legal deterrents.. that is, laws and customs that are not supported by forces that countries are actually required to implement. For this, colonial states appear, with ambitions outside their borders, and working to achieve these “interests”. These interests often consist of: exploitation of the resources of other countries, confiscation of their will, and management of affairs in a way that serves the interests of the exploiter or (the colonizer), even if it harms the public interest of the victim countries.
And if the “forest” of international relations, and its brutal logic, allow the strong to exploit the weak, then religious, human, and even international laws and customs prohibit such behavior, and stand against the exploitation and enslavement of others. Despite this, the powerful and influential countries – with colonial ambitions – exercise this domination, and try to cover this practice with many veils and justifications. Strong states, especially the two elements of the political system and national unity, are always better able than others to protect themselves and their capabilities against the greedy people. This illustrates the importance of national unity at the international level, and outside the borders of a single country.
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It can be said that supporting the national unity of any country is dependent on the process of national fusion, with its well-known procedures. Raising the degree of "national unity" is often achieved through positive political development, especially with its well-known and essential element, which is the process of national fusion. However, since any people is responsible for the development of their country and themselves, we find that this development starts from the home (family) and the school… starting from the first school years. There are two main parties to this national unity: the political system of the country concerned, and the people of that country, especially its civil society institutions.
The most important means of supporting and activating national unity, which is entrusted to the “political system” (the government), is embodied in: the actual adoption of the principles of equality, freedom, justice, consultation, and social solidarity. And so that all citizens are equal in rights and duties, and under the shadow of these principles.. within the framework of values and beliefs that are acceptable to the majority of the concerned people. In addition to adopting sustainable positive political development, which will be a permanent part of the general policy of the concerned country. Whenever the regime, any regime, implements the contents of the aforementioned principles, applies them, pursues positive political development (and the process of national fusion in particular), and fights racism, the stronger the national cohesion and the strengthening of national unity, and vice versa.
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As for the responsibility of the people, it includes: Doing everything that would support the national unity of his country, and foremost among that is that every individual, group and class in it, consistently, seriously, with conviction and sincerity (towards each other and towards their country) do the following:
A – Dialogue and Understanding: It means keenness on dialogue with other citizens regarding all principles and ideas that they may differ about, in a friendly and civilized dialogue, aimed at supporting understanding among citizens, and converging points of view among them, while fully adhering to the principle of mutual respect in all cases.
B – Kindness and compassion, and showing sympathy and support for each other in the positive and the aversive.
C – Cooperation in the fields of righteousness and piety: It means hastening to cooperate with other citizens in everything that brings good to their country and its people.
D – Rejecting sectarian and tribal fanaticism (racism), and considering this fanaticism as reprehensible extremism, for which the law must be punished as a deterrent.
E – Pride in the homeland, its lofty values and its important civilizational achievements.
F – Preserving public property and preventing tampering with it, as it is the property of all citizens.
G – Full cooperation with the authority in everything that serves the security, peace and stability of the homeland.
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As we have noted, the most important means of instilling these good values in the hearts of citizens, and urging them to support their national unity, is the process of education and culture of all kinds, especially what is known as “political upbringing.” Therefore, specialists believe that it is necessary to include selected educational courses in general education to clarify the meaning of national unity, the importance of supporting and achieving it, and the seriousness of its neglect and weakness. In addition to the practical ways to achieve them.. and the responsibility and duty of every citizen to follow these paths, and abide by them, towards his fellow citizens, and towards the government of his country, so that young people become accustomed to the automatic concern for national unity, and this concern is embodied in their behavior throughout their lives.
Charity Yahya Fadel
