what is unity essay

Pasco-Hernando State College

• Unity and Coherence in Essays
• The Writing Process
• Paragraphs and Essays
• Proving the Thesis/Critical Thinking
• Appropriate Language

Test Yourself

• Essay Organization Quiz
• Sample Essay - Fairies
• Sample Essay - Modern Technology

Related Pages

• Proving the Thesis

Unity is the idea that all parts of the writing work to achieve the same goal: proving the thesis. Just as the content of a paragraph should focus on a topic sentence, the content of an essay must focus on the thesis.  The introduction paragraph introduces the thesis, the body paragraphs each have a proof point (topic sentence) with content that proves the thesis, and the concluding paragraph sums up the proof and restates the thesis. Extraneous information in any part of the essay which is not related to the thesis is distracting and takes away from the strength of proving the thesis.

An essay must have coherence. The sentences must flow smoothly and logically from one to the next as they support the purpose of  each paragraph in proving the thesis. .

Just as the last sentence in a paragraph must connect back to the topic sentence of the paragraph, the last paragraph of the essay should connect back to the thesis by reviewing the proof and restating the thesis.

Example of Essay with Problems of Unity and Coherence

Here is an example of a brief essay that includes a paragraph that  does not  support the thesis “Many people are changing their diets to be healthier.”

     People are concerned about pesticides, steroids, and antibiotics in the food they eat.  Many now shop for organic foods since they don’t have the pesticides used in conventionally grown food.  Meat from chicken and cows that are not given steroids or antibiotics are gaining in popularity even though they are much more expensive. More and more, people are eliminating pesticides, steroids, and antibiotics from their diets.

    Eating healthier also is beneficial to the environment since there are less pesticides poisoning the earth. Pesticides getting into the waterways is creating a problem with drinking water.  Historically, safe drinking water has been a problem. It is believed the Ancient Egyptians drank beer since the water was not safe to drink.  Brewing beer killed the harmful organisms and bacteria in the water from the Nile.

     There is a growing concern about eating genetically modified foods, and people are opting for non-GMO diets.  Some people say there are more allergic reactions and other health problems resulting from these foods.  Others are concerned because there are no long-term studies which clearly show no adverse health effects such as cancers or other illnesses. Avoiding GMO food is another way people are eating healthier food.

See how just one paragraph  can take away from the effectiveness of the essay in showing how people are changing to healthier food since the unity and coherence are affected.  There is no longer unity among all the paragraphs.  The thought pattern is disjointed and the essay loses its coherence.

Transitions and Logical Flow of Ideas

Transitions are words, groups of words, or sentences that connect one sentence to another or one paragraph to another.

They promote a logical flow from one idea to the next and overall unity and coherence.

While transitions are not needed in every sentence or at the end of every paragraph, they are missed when they are omitted since the flow of thoughts becomes disjointed or even confusing.

There are different types of transitions:

Time – before, after, during, in the meantime, nowadays

Space – over, around, under

Examples – for instance, one example is

Comparison – on the other hand, the opposing view

Consequence – as a result, subsequently

These are just a few examples.  The idea is to paint a clear, logical connection between sentences and between paragraphs.

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11 Unity & Coherence

Preserving unity.

Academic essays need unity, which means that all of the ideas in an essay need to relate to the thesis, and all of the ideas in a paragraph need to relate to the paragraph’s topic. It can be easy to get “off track” and start writing about an idea that is somewhat related to your main idea, but does not directly connect to your main point.

All of the sentences in a paragraph should stay “on track;” that is, they should connect to the topic. One way to preserve unity in a paragraph is to start with a topic sentence that shows the main idea of the paragraph. Then, make sure each sentence in the paragraph relates to that main idea.

If you find a sentence that goes off track, perhaps you need to start a separate paragraph to write more about that different idea. Each paragraph should generally have only one main idea.

As you pre-write and draft an essay, try to pause occasionally. Go back to the assignment prompt and re-read it to make sure you are staying on topic. Use the prompt to guide your essay; make sure you are addressing all of the questions. Do not just re-state the words in the prompt. Instead, respond to the questions with your own ideas, in your own words, and make sure everything connects to the prompt and your thesis.

Activity A ~ Finding Breaks in Unity

Consider the following paragraphs. Is there a topic sentence? If so, do all of the other sentences relate to the topic sentence? Can you find any sentences that don’t relate?

     The planned community of Columbia, Maryland, was designed as a city open to all, regardless of race, level of income, or religion. When Columbia began in 1967, many cities in the U.S. did not allow people of certain races to rent or buy homes. Its developer, James W. Rouse, wanted to build a new city that had fair and open housing options for everyone. HCC has a building named for James W. Rouse. Today, the city’s nearly 100,000 remain diverse, as shown by recent census data. *****

    College can be expensive and difficult. Critical thinking is a very important skill for college students to develop so that they can be successful in their careers. Employers look for graduates who can understand information, analyze data, and solve problems. They also want employees who can think creatively and communicate their ideas clearly. College students need to practice these skills in all of their classes so that they can demonstrate their abilities to potential employers. ***** Bananas are one of Americans’ favorite types of fruit. The Cavendish variety, grown in Central and South America, is the most commonly sold here in the U.S. Recent problems with a fungus called Panama disease (or TR4), however, have led to a shortage of Cavendish bananas. Similar problems occurred a few years ago in parts of Asia and the Middle East. Because the fungus kills the crop and contaminates the soil, scientists are concerned that the popular Cavendish banana could be completely eradicated. Bananas contain many nutrients, including potassium and Vitamin B6. *****

Whether you choose to include a topic sentence or not, all of the sentences in your paragraph need to relate to the one main idea of the paragraph.

Another way to think about unity in a paragraph is to imagine your family tree. Draw a quick sketch of your family tree in your notebook. If you were writing an essay about your family, you might write a paragraph about close family members first. Next, you might branch out into another paragraph to write about more distant relatives. You might even include a paragraph about very close family friends, or pets. Each paragraph would have just one main idea (immediate family, more distant relatives, close family friends), and every sentence in each paragraph would relate to that main idea.

Activity B ~ Preserving Unity in Your Own Writing

Examine a composition that you have written for this class. Do all of your paragraphs have unity? Can you find any sentences that don’t relate to the topic of each paragraph? Exchange papers with a partner to peer review.

Ensuring Coherence

There are several ways to create connections between ideas in your essay. Here are some suggestions:

1. Repeat key words and phrases. This can be a powerful way to make a point. Consider this excerpt from Rev. Martin Luther King’s famous “I Have a Dream” speech at the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, in which he uses parallel structure :

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today.

2. Use synonyms , as in this example, where King uses both repetition (“Let freedom ring”) and synonyms (for “mountains”):

And if America is to be a great nation, this must become true. So let freedom ring from the prodigious hilltops of New Hampshire. Let freedom ring from the mighty mountains of New York. Let freedom ring from the heightening Alleghenies of Pennsylvania. Let freedom ring from the snow-capped Rockies of Colorado. Let freedom ring from the curvaceous slopes of California. But not only that: Let freedom ring from Stone Mountain of Georgia. Let freedom ring from Lookout Mountain of Tennessee. Let freedom ring from every hill and molehill of Mississippi. From every mountainside, let freedom ring.

3. Use pronouns to refer to antecedents , as King does here; this can be more elegant than just repeating the key words and phrases:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

4. Use demonstratives ( this, that, these, those ) as adjectives or pronouns, as King does here:

I say to you today, my friends, so even though we face the difficulties of today and tomorrow, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.”…. This is our hope. This is the faith that I go back to the South with. With this faith we will be able to hew out of the mountain of despair a stone of hope. With this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood.  

Questions to Ponder

Pause for a moment here to think about the examples above. Think about audience, purpose, and context of an academic essay. Would you use the techniques for coherence in the same way that Dr. King did in his speech, or would you use the techniques in a different way? Discuss with a small group.

5. Use transitions. Transition words and phrases will help you to make sure your essay has coherence. Also called signal words/phrases or signposts, these help to guide your readers.

Transitions connect your related ideas; they can also show your reader that you are starting a new topic, giving an example, adding information, explaining causes and effects, and so on. Using the correct transition word or phrase in a sentence can make your writing much clearer. Try the activity below to think of possible transitions.

Activity C ~ Transition Words & Phrases

With your partner, brainstorm a list of transition words and phrases for each of the categories below.

Can you think of other transition words and phrases? What other categories do they belong to?

After you have completed these activities with your partner, consult  Transition Words & Phrases ~ Useful Lists for more on compare/contrast, addition, cause/effect, and other transitions to try.

Activity D ~ Ensuring Coherence in Your Own Writing

Examine a composition that you have written for this class for coherence. Find and mark examples of places where you used repetition, synonyms, pronouns or demonstratives to build connections between ideas.

Underline your transition words and phrases. Did you use the strongest signal words? Can you find examples where you need to add a transition? Or, did you use too many transitions? Exchange papers with a partner to peer review.

Consult our chapter on Transitions for more inspiration on achieving coherence and cohesion in your writing. Challenge yourself to use some new transitions in your next composition.

Is this chapter:

…about right, but you would like more examples? –> Read “ Cohesion and Coherence ” from George Mason University’s Writing Center.

…too easy, or you would like more examples? –> Read “ ESL: Coherence and Cohesion ” from the Writing & Communication Center at the University of Washington/Bothell

Note: links open in new tabs.

King, Martin Luther, Jr. “I Have a Dream.” March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. 28 August 1963. Washington, D.C. Speech.

to start to do something different

short piece or sample, for example a direct quote in writing or a few measures of a musical composition

to think about

ENGLISH 087: Academic Advanced Writing Copyright © 2020 by Nancy Hutchison is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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Table of Contents

Ai, ethics & human agency, collaboration, information literacy, writing process.

Unity refers to a writer's effort to make sure every bit of discourse -- every word , phrase , clause , sentence , and paragraph -- directly contribute to the main narrative or thesis . Mastery of unity is crucial for writers, as it enhances clarity and impact, significantly improving overall communication . This article defines unity , distinguishes it from coherence , and provides strategies you can use to create unified texts.

What is Unity (in Writing)?

Unity refers to

• the state of being whole or undivided
• the degree to which the elements of a text work together to deliver a consistent message, theme, idea, narrative, tone, voice, and purpose
• No likely counterarguments have been overlooked. No unnecessary information or evidence has been provided

Related Concepts: Felt Sense ; Gestalt ; Organization; Thesis .

What’s the difference between unity and coherence ?

Unity refers to a writer’s effort to make sure every bit of discourse — every word , phrase , clause , sentence , and paragraph — directly contributes to the main narrative or thesis . For instance, in a detective story, each clue logically builds toward the final revelation. Thus, unity is closely tied to coherence –the act of organizing information in a logical, rhetorical manner. However, unity goes a step further. While coherence could mean a logically ordered set of ideas or events, unity is achieved when these coherent parts also directly feed into the larger narrative or thesis. For example, a coherent piece might detail a day’s events chronologically, but a unified piece ensures each event also reveals something crucial about the character’s personality. Achieving unity is vital for writers because it enhances clarity and reinforces the impact of their work, improving overall communication

How do teachers, editors, and critics use the concept of unity to critique texts?

Critiquing texts on the basis of unity is a valuable approach as it allows the evaluator to determine if all parts of the text work together to form a cohesive whole. A text that has unity is like a well-oiled machine with all its components working in unison to achieve a single goal.

Here are some ways unity can be used in critique:

• Theme Consistency: A story should ideally have a unifying theme that resonates through its entirety. If different parts of a text seem to convey conflicting themes, or if a theme is introduced but then discarded, the text may lack unity.
• Character Development: In fiction, characters should be consistently developed throughout a story. Characters that act against their established traits without proper justification can disrupt the unity of a story.
• Tone and Style: The tone and style of a text should be consistent throughout, unless there is a deliberate reason for a change. Inconsistencies can disrupt the reader’s experience and sense of unity.
• Structure and Flow: The sequence of thoughts and events in a text contributes to its unity. A well-structured text leads the reader smoothly from one idea or event to the next.
• Argument Unity: In persuasive or expository writing, all parts of the argument should support the thesis. Irrelevant or contradictory points can weaken the unity and overall effectiveness of the text.

What is unity at the global level?

Unity at the global level refers to how well a writer maintains a consistent focus on the writer’s purpose, thesis, or research question. Global unity may also refer to a consistent voice, tone, or persona.

What is unity at the local level?

Unity at the local level refers to how well a writer keeps a consistent focus at the paragraph and sentence level.

Unity @ the Paragraph Level

Paragraphs need to stay focused on one topic. A good way to make sure you are staying focused is to have a solid topic sentence—a sentence that explains what the paragraph will discuss—and be sure to add only those details or examples that relate directly to that topic.

In the same paragraph below the topic sentence is “”The film industry releases more sequels than original movies these days.” Notice how this sentence explicitly tells the reader what the paragraph is about. Also notice how the subsequent two sentences expound on that topic sentence. Yet, then notice how the two sentences about Star Wars and science fiction prequels do not fit the main idea of the paragraph. Although they contain interesting information, these sentences disrupt the paragraph’s unity. The writer should move them to another point in a new paragraph (about prequels or maybe science fiction movies, depending on the focus of the paper) or even get rid of them entirely.

“The film industry releases more sequels than original movies these days. From the Marvel comic book adaptations to the seventh installment of the latest horror series, Hollywood seems determined to run a franchise into the ground rather than take a chance on something new. Instead of meeting new characters, moviegoers learned more about Captain America in The Winter Soldier , and they followed the ongoing story of Thor and Loki in Thor: The Dark World . Even the horror industry seems to be losing creativity—apparently the four Paranormal Activity movies need yet another sequel. Remember the hype around the Star Wars prequels a few years ago? Science fiction movies often have prequels that fans love to see. Moviegoers are ready for something new in theaters; hopefully, the producers in Hollywood will realize that the age of the sequel is coming to an end.”

Unity @ the Sentence Level

Readers expect writers to organize sentences in a logical order. There are three major ways to organize sentences: deductive order, inductive order, or coordinate order. Francis Christensen, in Notes Toward a New Rhetoric (NY: Harper & Row, 1967), has suggested that we number sentences according to their level of generality.

According to Christensen, we would assign a 1 to the most general sentence and then a 2 to the second most general sentence, and so on. Christensen considers the following paragraph, which he excerpted from Jacob Bronowski’s The Common Sense of Science , to be an example of a subordinate pattern because the sentences become increasingly more specific as the reader progresses through the paragraph:

• Perhaps this is what gives them both their air of happiness and freedom in these activities.

Christensen is quick to point out that not all paragraphs have a subordinate structure. The following one, which he took from Bergen Evans’s Comfortable Words, is an example of what Christensen considers a coordinate sequence:

• He [the native speaker] may, of course, speak a form of English that marks him as coming from a rural or an unread group.
• But if he doesn’t mind being so marked, there’s no reason why he should change.
• Samuel Johnson kept a Staffordshire burr in his speech all his life.
• In Burns’ mouth the despised lowland Scots dialect served just as well as the “correct” English spoken by ten million of his southern contemporaries.
• Lincoln’s vocabulary and his way of pronouncing certain words were sneered at by many better educated people at the time, but he seemed to be able to use the English language as effectively as his critics.

Brevity - Say More with Less

Clarity (in Speech and Writing)

Coherence - How to Achieve Coherence in Writing

Flow - How to Create Flow in Writing

Inclusivity - Inclusive Language

The Elements of Style - The DNA of Powerful Writing

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Unity is Strength Essay for Students - 100, 200, 500 Words

• Essay on Unity is Strength

"Unity is strength" means that when people work together as a team, they are stronger and more potent than when they work alone. The phrase emphasises the importance of cooperation, solidarity, and teamwork in achieving a common goal. Together, people can accomplish more and overcome obstacles that are challenging for a single individual.

100 Words Essay On Unity Is Strength

200 words essay on unity is strength, 500 words essay on unity is strength.

Unity is strength is a powerful phrase that holds a lot of meaning. It means that when individuals come together and work as a team, they are stronger and more powerful than when they work alone. This phrase emphasises the importance of cooperation, solidarity and teamwork in achieving a common goal.

Unity is strength is a fundamental principle that is applicable to many walks of life, such as personal relationships, business, and community. A united family is more robust than a family that is divided, a united community is stronger than a community that is divided, and a united nation is stronger than a nation that is divided.

Unity is strength refers to the idea that when people come together, they are stronger than when they are alone. This concept is often used to encourage people to work together towards a common goal.

What Happens When There Is Unity?

When individuals come together, they can pool their resources and talents to achieve things that would be impossible for them to accomplish alone. This is particularly applicable in the case of large-scale projects, such as building a house or launching a business. When people work together, they can divide the work and share the burden, making it easier for everyone involved.

Another advantage of unity is that it provides a sense of security and support. When people feel like they are part of a team, they are more likely to feel confident and motivated. They know that they have others to rely on, and they feel like they are not alone in their struggles. It becomes even more crucial during times of crisis, such as natural disasters and economic recessions.

When people come together and work towards a common goal, they can achieve great things and create a stronger, more united community. By fostering unity and cooperation, we can build a better future for ourselves and for future generations.

The phrase "unity is strength" is a simple yet powerful message that holds true in many aspects of life. In today's world, where society is becoming increasingly diverse and globalised, unity is more important than ever. With unity, we can overcome the challenges that we face as a society and work towards creating a better future for all.

What is Unity?

Unity refers to the state of being united or joined together. It is the act of coming together as a group or community to achieve a shared purpose or goal. Unity can manifest in various forms, such as in a team, a family, a community, or a country. The strength of unity lies in the ability to combine individual strengths and resources to achieve a common objective.

Examples of Unity in Action

One example of unity in action is a sports team. When a team works together, each player brings their unique skills and talents to the table. Together, they can achieve things that would be impossible for them to do alone. The team's unity and cooperation can lead to better performance on the field and greater success in the game.

Another example is a community coming together to rebuild after a natural disaster. When individuals come together and work as a team, they can divide the work and share the burden, making it easier for everyone involved. Unity, in this case, allows the community to recover faster and stronger.

Benefits of Unity for Society

Unity has many benefits for society as a whole.

One of the most significant benefits is that it allows individuals to pool their resources and talents to achieve things that would be impossible for them to accomplish alone. In the case of large-scale projects, such as building a house or opening a business, this is especially true.

When people work together, they can divide the work and share the burden, making it easier for everyone involved.

Unity provides a sense of security and support. When people feel like they are part of a team, they are more likely to feel confident and motivated. They know that they have others to rely on, and they feel like they are not alone in their struggles.

Unity also promotes cooperation and understanding among different groups of people. They learn to respect and appreciate the contributions of others, and they become more open-minded and tolerant. This can lead to a more harmonious and peaceful society.

Challenges of Achieving Unity

While unity is a powerful force, it can be challenging to achieve.

One of the main challenges is overcoming differences and finding common ground. People come from different backgrounds and have different perspectives, which can make it challenging to agree on a course of action.

Another challenge is dealing with selfishness and ego. When people are only focused on their own interests, it can be challenging to get them to cooperate and work together.

Lastly, unity can be challenging to maintain. It requires ongoing effort and commitment from all parties involved. Without constant reinforcement, unity can easily fall apart.

By fostering unity and cooperation, we can build a better future for ourselves and for future generations.

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Paragraph Unity: Guidelines, Examples, and Exercises

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• Writing Essays
• Writing Research Papers
• English Grammar
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

“Consider the postage stamp," advised humorist Josh Billings. "Its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.”

The same might be said about an effective paragraph. Unity is the quality of sticking to one idea from start to finish when writing.

In a unified paragraph , a​  topic sentence contains the main idea and all supporting sentences serve to illustrate, clarify, and/or explain the main idea. The central purpose of a unified piece of writing is communicated effectively.

Why Paragraph Unity Is Important

The best way to demonstrate the importance of unity is to show how the intrusion of irrelevant information can disrupt our understanding of a paragraph. The original version of the following passage, taken from The Names: A Memoir by N. Scott Momaday, vividly illustrates how people in the Pueblo of Jemez in New Mexico prepare for the Feast of San Diego.

The unity of Momaday's paragraph has been upset by the addition of one sentence that's not directly connected to his main idea. See if you can spot that sentence.

The activity in the pueblo reached a peak on the day before the Feast of San Diego, November twelfth. It was on that day, an especially brilliant day in which the winter held off and the sun shone like a flare, that Jemez became one of the fabulous cities of the world. In the preceding days the women had plastered the houses, many of them, and they were clean and beautiful like bone in the high light; the strings of chilies at the vigas had darkened a little and taken on a deeper, softer sheen; ears of colored corn were strung at the doors, and fresh cedar boughs were laid about, setting a whole, wild fragrance on the air. The women were baking bread in the outdoor ovens. Here and there men and women were at the woodpiles, chopping, taking up loads of firewood for their kitchens, for the coming feast. Year-round, the artisans of Jemez, known internationally for their crafts, would create beautiful basketry, embroidery, woven cloths, exquisite stone sculpture, moccasins, and jewelry. Even the children were at work: the little boys looked after the stock, and the little girls carried babies about. There were gleaming antlers on the rooftops, and smoke arose from all the chimneys, (Momaday 1976).

The third-to-last sentence ("Year-round, the artisans of Jemez ... ") is the distracting addition to Momaday's passage. The added sentence upsets the unity of the paragraph by offering information that isn't directly relevant to the main idea (as stated in the first sentence) or to any of the other sentences in the paragraph. Whereas Momaday focuses specifically on activities taking place the day before the Feast of San Diego," the intrusive sentence refers to work performed year-round."

By moving irrelevant information to a new paragraph—or by omitting off-topic information altogether—one can improve paragraph unity.

Practice Exercise in Paragraph Unity

The following paragraph, also adapted from The Names: A Memoir , describes the end of the busy day before the Feast of San Diego. Again, a sentence has been added that's not directly connected to the author's main idea. See if you can identify the sentence that upsets the unity of the paragraph, then check your answer.

Later in the dusky streets I walked among the Navajo camps, past the doorways of the town, from which came the good smells of cooking, the festive sounds of music, laughter, and talk. The campfires rippled in the crisp wind that arose with evening and set a soft yellow glow on the ground, low on the adobe walls. A natural building material used for several thousand years, adobe is composed of sand and straw, which is shaped into bricks on wooden frames and dried in the sun. Mutton sizzled and smoked above the fires; fat dripped into the flames; there were great black pots of strong coffee and buckets full of fried bread; dogs crouched on the rim of the light, the many circles of light; and old men sat hunched in their blankets on the ground, in the cold shadows, smoking. ... Long into the night the fires cast a glare over the town, and I could hear the singing, until it seemed that one by one the voices fell away, and one remained, and then there was none. On the very edge of sleep I heard coyotes in the hills, (Momaday 1976).

The third sentence in the paragraph ("A natural building material used for several thousand years, adobe...) is the odd one out. The information about adobe bricks is not directly relevant to the night scene described in the rest of the passage. To restore the unity of Momaday's paragraph, delete this sentence.

Momaday, N. Scott. The Names: A Memoir . HarperCollins, 1976.

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What is unity in writing?

Sometimes an instructor or proofreader will tell a student to check for unity in a piece of writing.  Unity means that each paragraph has only one main idea (expressed in the topic sentences) and that all other sentences and details in that paragraph revolve around that main idea.  If a sentence or detail does not adhere closely to the central idea expressed in the topic sentence, it does not belong in that paragraph.  If a new main idea comes up, a new paragraph is needed.

TIP:  Remember that while a story or example maybe be interesting to you, it should not be included if it does not support the thesis statement or if it does not clearly illustrate the main point.

TIP:  Use topic sentences.  If you find that you're writing about a second main idea, determine the best place to start a new paragraph, and begin that new paragraph with a topic sentence.

• Reading and Writing
• Last Updated Feb 23, 2021
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• Answered By Ashley Librarian

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Paragraph Unity, Coherence, and Development

In each paragraph of an essay, one particular idea or topic is developed and explained. In order to successfully do so, however, it is essential that the paragraph be written in a unified and coherent manner. 

A unified paragraph must follow the idea mentioned in the topic sentence and must not deviate from it. For a further explanation on topic sentences, see the Write Right on Topic Sentences .

A coherent paragraph has sentences that all logically follow each other; they are not isolated thoughts. Coherence can be achieved in several ways. First, using transitions helps connect ideas from one sentence to the next. For more on transitions, see the Write Right on Transitions . Second, ordering thoughts in numerical sequence helps to direct the reader from one point to the next. Third, structuring each paragraph according to one of the following patterns helps to organize sentences: general to particular; particular to general; whole to parts; question to answer; or effect to cause. 

Remember that a paragraph should have enough sentences so that the main idea of the topic sentence is completely developed. Generalizations should be supported with examples or illustrations. Also, details and descriptions help the reader to understand what you mean. Don't ever assume that the reader can read your mind: be specific enough to develop your ideas thoroughly, but avoid repetition

An effective paragraph might look like this:

It is commonly recognized that dogs have an extreme antagonism toward cats. This enmity between these two species can be traced back to the time of the early Egyptian dynasties. Archaeologists in recent years have discovered Egyptian texts in which there are detailed accounts of canines brutally mauling felines. Today this type of cruelty between these two domestic pets can be witnessed in regions as close as your own neighborhood. For example, when dogs are walked by their masters (and they happen to catch sight of a stray cat), they will pull with all their strength on their leash until the master is forced to yield; the typical result is that a feline is chased up a tree. The hatred between dogs and cats has lasted for many centuries, so it is unlikely that this conflict will ever end.

This paragraph is effective for the following reasons:

• The paragraph shows unity. All the sentences effectively relate back to the topic sentence at the beginning of the paragraph. 
• The paragraph shows coherence. There is a flow of thoughts and ideas among the sentences in this paragraph. There are good transitions employed in the paragraph. The writer also presents her sub-topics in an orderly fashion that the reader can follow easily.
• The paragraph is developed. The writer gives herself enough space to develop the topic. She gives us at least two reasons to accept her argument and incorporates some examples in order to give those reasons more validity.

Reference: Strunk, Wiliam Jr., and E. B. White. The Elements of Style . 4th ed., Allyn and Bacon, 2000.

Copyright © 2009 Wheaton College Writing Center

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• Unity is Strength Essay

Essay on Unity is Strength

Unity is strength means staying united in all situations. It has a great value in all walks of life. When we are united then we can surmount any challenges and accomplish any goal. The development of our society and country depends on this spirit. In fact civilization came into existence because of the unity among people. In order to lead a peaceful and fulfilling life, it is very important for people to stay united. Unfortunately, this word unity has become confined to motivational and inspirational talks.

India was not an independent country till 1947. British had come to India as traders but ruled for 200 years. It was just because of a lack of mutual unity among the people of the country. When the Indians realized that their freedom from the British was a must then they united and fought against the British. Their unity brought independence to India. This example proves that when we work unified then we can bring success.

India is a multi-cultural, multi-racial, multilingual and multi-ethnic society. It is a land of diversity. People of different religions, customs, cultures and traditions live here. They have their different festivals, fashion and lifestyles. Despite all this variedness, India remains a one-nation. It seems as if the whole country is bound with an invisible common thread. This distinct feature that emerges from this diversity is that in spite of this variedness, they are united.

Unity Helps to Grow: No one can grow alone. We need support from others. If we want to grow in business, we need team members. If we need to grow our family, we need a partner. If we have to achieve big success in our society, we need to work together towards that success. 

Unity Gives Courage: Unity gives us the courage, hope and strength. Whenever we see injustice in our society, we feel like raising our voice but most of the time we take a step back because we are scared to fight alone. When we get support from others then we can get the courage to fight together for injustice. When we are united, we can bring the change. So unity not only gives hope, courage and hope but also brings a change.

Unity Gives Motivation: When we work as a team, we get motivated by each other and encouraged to work harder. With motivation and hard work, we can accomplish any goal. 

Unity Inspires: We cannot get inspiration in isolation but when we are together, we get inspired by each other in personal and professional matters.

Unity Creates Wonders: In today’s world when people are suffering from depression and loneliness, then the neighborhood can be a boon for them by supporting and bringing joy and happiness in their lives. 

In spite of this, there are certain anti-elements and external forces that are continuously disturbing the unity among the people by inciting communal and sentiments. There has been increasing intolerance, disharmony and lawlessness in our society and country. Similarly, various nations across the globe are fighting amongst themselves to prove superiority. Today almost every nation has nuclear weapons, terrorist organizations are formed to bring destruction, and corrupt people try to manipulate the innocent. If the entire mankind realizes that these anti elements won’t do good to anyone then together we can create a beautiful world on this planet.

There is no doubt about the fact that the strength lies in unity. There are many stories, real incidents and experiences to prove this. It is our responsibility to maintain this unique feature.

We should think beyond petty interests and work united for much broader goals of bringing prosperity and progress in our society and country.

FAQs on Unity is Strength Essay

1. What do you mean by unity is strength?

Unity is strength means when we are together then we become stronger.

2. Why is unity important?

Unit is important because unity brings freedom, peace, success, courage, strength and hope.

3. How can unity bring a change in our society?

When we are together and support each other then we can fight against the evils and injustice of our society.

4. What is the symbol of unity?

The symbol of unity is the Gordian knot. It represents oneness and an unbreakable union.

• Creating Unity in Writing
• English Department

June 1, 2021

If you come to Southern to major in English, or even if you don’t major in English, you will probably be in one of the department’s first-year writing courses, English 101. This course is unified around certain important principles of composition no matter who you take the class from.

Each 101 section divides writing evaluation into five categories—unity, coherence, content, style, and correctness.

What is unity? Unity is the sense a writer creates that an essay has an identifiable purpose. Unity is created a number of ways.

The real beginning of an essay is the title. It’s important to create a good one, because the reader’s sense of unity starts right there. A title that doesn’t begin the unity of the essay is all wrong! For instance, one-word titles can’t usually capture enough specific information to be a true unifier. But a title that is a full sentence provides too much information and thus is not a true beginning.

The trick is to indicate the topic of the essay without giving too much away. An example of a good title: “The Forgotten Menace of Bad Manners.” This title suggests that the essay will be about bad manners, but the reader doesn’t yet know how bad manners are a “menace”!

First lines of essays are critical to unity. The first line should be “organic,” a seed from which all else grows. Immature opening lines sometimes make grand but obvious claims—“The world is a dangerous place.” This line is not a unifier!

Examples of organic, unifying openings: “It was lunch time and they were all sitting under the double green fly of the dining tent pretending that nothing had happened.” (Ernest Hemingway, “The Short Happy Life of Francis Macomber.”) “All happy families resemble one another; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.” (Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina ). “When Gregor Samsa woke up one morning from unsettling dreams, he found himself changed in his bed into a monstrous vermin.” (Franz Kafka, “The Metamorphosis.”) “Buck did not read the newspapers, or he would have known that trouble was brewing, not alone for him, but for every tide-water dog, strong of muscle and with warm, long hair, from Puget Sound to San Diego.” (Jack London, The Call of the Wild .)

Notice how each of these openings contains a huge amount of information that will be exploited in the text.

Thesis statements are also critical to written unity. A thesis statement should be a specific, manageable claim or assertion that is an answer to a question at issue. The question is not normally present in an essay, but it is certainly inferred. One of the best ways to create a thesis is to search for a good question. Remember, though, that the first line and the thesis are not the same.

Closings are key to unity. Writers are sometimes taught that a closing is a mere summary of the main points of an essay. This technique okay, but it is not very sophisticated. Writing nothing but a summary means that the writer has, in effect, stopped writing. Writers should instead keep writing right to the last word.

So a good closing says new things—not off the topic, of course. Closings are not the place to make any major points that are not in the main body of the essay. As a writer closes an essay, this might be the time to discuss the implications of the essay, evaluate, or suggest something be done. Anything, that is, but merely rehash the contents of the essay. A good closing must seem important, not a formality.

If an essay you write has these elements, it’s hard to go wrong!

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Unity Is Strength Essay

Unity is the ability to stay together and work with others to accomplish a common goal. This unity is strength essay discusses how unity is essential for our society. In addition, we understand how we can overcome some of these divisions with unity or the power of working together as one unit. Unity is strength is a famous saying that has been around for centuries. The idea behind the phrase is that when people work together, they are more potent than when they work alone.

In the unity is strength short essay, we have explained how harmony can create strength in society. Unity is more than just joining with others for the sake of unity. It is about uniting for a greater purpose.

Significance of Staying United

The unity is strength essay explains that the power of friendship helps us to be strong from hardships. Friends can give us the strength we need when life gets tough. In addition, people express unity through love, family, friends, and others share stories of finding common ground with someone.

There are many benefits of staying united in tough times, as it helps to face challenging situations with courage. The importance of staying united has struck a chord among many people throughout history.

Keeping memories of what we have accomplished throughout history can help us see how individuals and communities have persevered through tough times and into a brighter future. In unprecedented moments, staying united is essential because the future is uncertain and could go either way.

We are surrounded by pictures of other people and what they do through social media. We are constantly told to compete and be better than everyone else. Staying united is crucial because it keeps each individual’s individuality intact.

To Nations and Societies

There are many reasons why nations should stay united, and the essay on unity is strength explains its significance. In world history, we can see examples of countries that stayed together, despite disagreements. This shows how countries can work together to create progress and prosperity.

The nations should stay united because it helps keep the peace on our mother Earth . It is good for countries to have a lot of trade and exchange with one another that helps them grow.

To conclude, staying united helps us become stronger. For more kids’ learning activities, like questions , poems , etc., visit BYJU’S website.

Frequently Asked Questions on Unity is Strength Essay

Who said unity is strength.

Mattie Stepanek said, “Unity is strength.”

What does unity is strength mean?

Everyone has their unique definition of unity is strength, but all definitions could be summed up as one word: solidarity. The proverb unity is strength means stronger together.

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Unity is Strength Essay for Students and Children

500+ words essay on unity is strength.

In today’s time where there is cut-throat competition everywhere and every individual is trying to apply his or her method to reach on top, very few recognize the importance of proverb ‘Unity is strength’. Also, this proverb has now become confined to inspirational books and motivational lectures. So, very few people actually understand the importance and thus it’s application in their lives. But these people that are actually more satisfied as well as content in their lives that actually applies it. So, unity is strength essay is an insight into the increasing importance of unity in lives in the present world.

This proverb also applies when it comes to relationships. People nowadays are so blinded by the success and the power that they want to be ahead of their colleagues, relatives, and friends.

Thus, they get into professional as well as personal rivalries with each other most of the times so, they do not understand that they cannot move ahead as well as enhance their skills, knowledge, and help each other. Thus, when we go against our team-mates and start to compete with them in an office setting, then people from another team will benefit from the situation. 

Read 500+ Words Essay on Unity here

Also, another reason here people grow apart because of mistrust. This becomes true especially when it comes to the husband-wife relationship. Also, here we often see couples doubting each other always. So, they start to question small things and doubt them of lying or cheating.

So, outsiders take advantage of these type of situations. Also, they fuel the doubt and thereby create conflict between the two in order to fulfill their own motives. Also, this will not only have a negative impact on the two but also on the kids. So, if the wife and husband stay united and defend each other than no one can create the rift between the two. 

To Societies and Nations

The proverb also holds true when it comes to society and the nation as a whole. The societies and localities where people stay united are loved by everyone.

Thus, people living here meets as well as greets their neighbors with a smile, guard their neighbor’s house, help out each other in crisis, etc. Also, they celebrate each and every function together and conducts other social gatherings every now and then. In the current world, many people are suffering from loneliness as well as depression, these types of neighborhood can be a boon. 

Similarly, nations around the globe are very busy fighting each other in order to prove that they are better than one another. So, every nation has nuclear weapons and many terrorist organizations have been formed. So, if we stop all these kinds of malpractices than the world will become a much better place to live. 

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The Importance of Community and Unity

If we could harness the power behind community and unity, there would never be a scarcity of energy..

What comes to mind when you think of community?

When you first think about community, your neighborhood may come to mind. Or the people of the city where you live. But when you take a step back and really think about the big picture - community is so much more.

The sense of community is a powerful source of comfort and unity in our lives. It's where people with similar values and passions collide for the greater good. Having a sense of community reaches far beyond your physical community.

Yes, your neighbors are an essential totem of your community. But consider all the other areas in your life that offer a sense of security and safety.

Other places or groups of people where can you find community:

• Your family
• Your friends
• The entire network of connections you’ve made throughout your life
• Your workplace
• The sports team you support and all their fans
• Local businesses
• Your fellow citizens
• The people who share your love of art or whatever hobby you’re into.

Community is important because it offers a safe haven where everyone feels welcome. It’s where you feel appreciated. It’s where you are a part of something bigger than yourself. It’s where you can find and offer support.

No matter the size, a community offers opportunities for growth and acceptance.

Having a strong sense of community is beneficial for anyone and everyone. It brings people together, builds healthy relationships, and fosters a sense of belonging.

Being a part of a community strengthens bonds between each other as they work towards a common goal. For the most part, that goal is to make the world a better place. These connections blossom into valued relationships that deepen our sense of belonging.

When we come together as a community , we flourish and expand our security net of love and acceptance. When you take the time to lift up the people around you, a chain reaction of kindness starts.

It’s like a ripple effect of positivity that the world needs now more than ever.

Community and Unity Go Hand-in-hand

We’ve all heard the saying, “United We Stand.” This phrase dates back to thousands of years ago. It was modernly coined by John Dickinson, one of America’s founding fathers. The little word ‘unity’ packs a powerful punch.

Unity is a word that describes togetherness. It naturally ties into community, which is all about coming together for the greater good. If we as a human race want to maximize our potential to make a positive change, it's vital to unite. But it’s not enough to want to change. You have to be the change.

“It is not in numbers but in unity that our great strength lies” – Thomas Paine

This is where community and unity form such an empowering combo. When we join forces with our brothers and sisters in the common good, wonderful things can happen.

If you’ve ever read the book (or watched the movie) Into the Wild, you learned a profound life lesson. Christopher McCandless dropped a major revelation: Happiness is only real when shared.

It was in his last moments of solitude when he came to this conclusion. Think of a time when you were on a solo trip or by yourself and witnessed something astounding. It could be as simple as the time when you saw a dramatic, full moon rising on a walk. Or when you noticed an act of kindness by happenchance.

Don’t you wish you could have turned to someone to share that special moment with? When you experience times like these with someone else, your happiness amplifies.

This is not to discredit the magical moments you experience on your own. Any time you experience joy and live in the now, you are channeling positive source energy. Cherish those special times. The lessons you pick up can also resonate with others. They can lift someone else's spirits and continue to expand that happy ripple.

How fun would it be to share your inspirational stories, positive insights, and to express gratitude to a community that would appreciate it? A community where everyone is fueled by everyone else’s dedication to positive change?

You can start by simply living a positive life full of gratitude and respect. The more you spread love, the more love you will attract to your community.

That said, it’s not easy to maintain a positive mindset when there’s so much negativity on the news and social media. We need more outlets that foster encouragement and empathy. Platforms like Youtopia point society in the right direction.

Youtopia is a new social media platform that focuses on being a positive source for change. Members can share motivating stories and ideas with an audience craving positivity. It’s a place to escape the negativity and build a community of love and support. It’s on a mission to facilitate positive change and create an environment of peace and unity.

It’s human nature to want to fit it in and be a part of a community. When you band together to spread a kind message, the world can change for the better.

When you move through life with kindness, you’ll attract others that have the same mentality. Friendships will grow and evolve into a community. A community that promotes unity and positive change in the world.

#All-Things-Youtopia #Community #Community #Drive-Positive-Change #Helping-Others #Strength-in-Community #Unity

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Essay on Importance of Unity in Life

January 7, 2018 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

We live in a cosmopolitan society where people vary in their opinions, judgments, view points, outlooks, perspectives and beliefs. It is quite often said that no two people can think and act in the same way.

People look at things in a certain way and create opinions of their own, based on their knowledge, circumstances, upbringing, culture, mind sets, etc. Based on these factors and many more, they vary in their perspectives and decision making abilities.

A new hoarding put up across the road side drew different opinions from different people. Some saw it as a sheer waste of space and utility, some smiled at the model displayed in the hoarding, some thought of having a second look at the hoarding, some passed it off as just another thing.

So we can see that basically people have different views over different things and issues. Nobody can think and act similarly and in the same fashion.

Table of Contents

Unity within the Family

So in what context does the term ‘unity’ relate to? Let’s explore more. Suppose a five member family is planning a vacation for their holidays. The children prefer going to an amusement park. Their parents like visiting a cool hill station.

The elders of the house consider religious spots as their favorites. So how then the vacation should be planned. If three different batches set out on three different trips, the whole concept of enjoying the vacation is ruined. Enjoyment comes when all three sets of people agree to go to a common place and spend time together.

But disagreements over deciding the place are bound to be there. So, in that case, with mutual understanding within the family, it is possible for the entire family to plan a trip to travel together and have fun in the vacation. The feeling of mutual understanding brings about closeness to the topic of unity.

When there was unity in planning the trip, it was actually worked out and probably executed successfully. If there was no unity in planning for the trip, it would have become a miserable disagreement.

Perspective of Unity

So where does unity lie, within the people, in their jobs or in their minds, let us look into it now. Unity is a feeling that springs out of mutual respect and mutual understanding between a group of people, in order to bring about goodwill and a feeling of mutual agreement with all the parties involved.

Large families existed in olden days, because there was unity among the family members and they had the feeling of preserving the unity for the next generations. In these days, people are hell bent on disagreements; nobody seems to have a mutual consent over matters related to the house.

This leaves a gap in their thinking and leaves no room for co-operation and integration of the full family. Hence, we find many broken families these days. Every person stands in a hurry to bring out and glorify his opinions over others and seems totally impatient to lend an ear to what others also have to say.

There is hardly any room for a unified thinking approach here. Families can sit together, discuss openly and sort out issues before it’s too late. That way, the concept of staying together as a big unit with the feeling of unity in everybody’s hearts and not anywhere else, can be certainly achieved.

Unity in Diversity

In our country, we often hear what has been followed since ages and that is ‘ Unity in diversity ’. How that is achieved in our country lies the big question. Unity in big terms here means co-operation and harmony among all citizens though they preach and practice different religions of their choice.

In a multi –cultural and multi-linguistic society as ours, the amount of differences that can crop up between any two groups of people can never be imagined. In a big country like ours, we find politicians debating every other day about issues that seem smaller to some, major for a few others and critical to the ones affected by them.

Execution of schemes depends on various political parameters and crossing various voices of dissent. If there was a shout of consent in every legitimate scheme brought up by the government, our nation would have become a super power by now.

But differences within various political groups, dissuasion’s within persons belonging to the same political party, using politics for their personal gains and the endless blame-games have thrown apart the concept of unity. Political leaders no longer work with unity to see the country progress and achieve its dream of becoming a super power nation.

When something new is launched, instead of showing unity in executing and achieving its goal, people start protesting against it and draw voices of dissent over them. This leads to the situation breaking down unnecessarily.

With no signs of unity or support anywhere, things get delayed in execution since they have to cross many a hurdles along their path. Hence, the country becomes sluggish in its development and progress naturally takes a back seat.

Japan is a super power nation that was devastated by nuclear bomb blasts, not once but twice over. But the people who suffered and survived the explosions did not sit back watching destiny to show them the path. They started working in unity; they formed groups of their own.

Their only goal was to bring back the prestigious position that the nation once held and they were really very successful in doing so. They rose from the shackles; it was not a one man’s decision, but a collective and united decision that worked in their favor.

They were determined to prove themselves to the world and did not stretch their arms for help. Instead, they started building ideas together and reconstructing their own nation with their own hands.

The results are there for us to see. Not only did the nation emerge as one of the super power countries of the world, but also stood as a great inspiration to many other nations to stand up and show unity to achieve the desired result.

When a dance troupe performs on stage, the success of the dance is directly dependent on every person’s right moves. With one wrong move thrown awkwardly by any dancer, the whole troupe would suffer setbacks. Here comes the show of unity.

When every person performs with perfect synchronization with the rest of the team, the show is bound to be a success. Success here cannot be credited to just one person, but it’s the collective effort of the entire team. The unity and uniformity shown by all the team members certainly puts up a great show.

So why is that we consider unity as such an important factor in our lives though we know each one of us are different in our own ways. When a mother prepares food for the family, she keeps in view the food choices of the entire family.

She makes sure to tend to every person’s taste buds and not disappoint any member of the family, especially children. The reason she does that is to see her family sit together and have lunch happily. There is show of unity, balance and harmony between the family members of the house.

In case, she prepared food that was only liked by her, then probably the rest of the house members would complain about her food choices and may prefer to eat something else. Here, we can find the disintegration of the family.

Values are another important aspect of bringing about unity within family. There should be a desire in people’s minds to lead a harmonious life by co-operating with each other. Sometimes, compromises in life are essential to set the situation right.

It’s perfectly alright to set back for a while and allow others to take the front seat if that is going to bring in a happy cheer on the family members. Unity is not allowing one’s opinions to be subdued or not letting oneself to shut down her voice to falsely push oneself to buy somebody else’s belief.

It’s a kind of feeling that arises out of mutual respect for each other and leads one in the way of happiness and contentment.

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Essay on Unity in Diversity in 100 to 200 Words

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• Sep 21, 2023

If you are a school-going student and searching for a good essay on unity in diversity, then this is the place where you can get some short essays on unity in diversity. Before starting you must be familiar with what is diversity. The phrase Unity in diversity beautifully holds the essence of coexistence. Unity aggregates people belonging to different religions, cultures, ethics , social, economic , and financial backgrounds. Thus, they align together to achieve a common goal. Continue Reading to learn about the significance of unity in diversity!

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• 1 Short Essay on Unity in Diversity
• 2 Unity in Diversity Essay 100 Words
• 3.1 Significance of Unity in Diversity

Also Read: Speech on National Integration

Short Essay on Unity in Diversity

Unity in diversity is a common phrase that correctly defines India. The essay on Unity in Diversity is the most popular topic for school children and students. This essay would help them learn about the importance of unity among people of different cultures and origins and also help them to know how Indian society functions.

Given below are some essays on Unity in diversity with different word limits:

Also Read: Essay on Human Rights

Unity in Diversity Essay 100 Words

The concept of unity in diversity is from ancient times. People belonging to similar beliefs and communities live with unity. The essence of diversity holds people together due to which people belonging to variable sectors, caste, colour, creeds, languages, and social backgrounds live together. 

The phrase “Unity in Diversity” also referred to as “Anekta m Ekta” was first coined by the first Prime Minister of India after Independence Hon’ble Jawaharlal Nehru in his famous book “The Discovery of India”.

Despite of diversity in India, people here live with love and celebrate various festivals together. All follow the rules laid down by the Constitution of India . To do so, it is important to respect every community and culture and not differentiate people on social terms.

Also Read: Class 8- The Indian Constitution

Unity in Diversity Essay 200 Words

The phenomenon of unity in diversity came from the rich historical times, it is rooted in ancient civilizations. India believes in the concept of “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam” which means the world is a family. Indians have followed this philosophy for thousands of years and therefore, we welcome guests from all over the world with utmost respect and love. This happens because there is no differentiation between people belonging to different cultures, castes, languages , colours, and backgrounds. Likewise, the Roman Empire also relied on the fundamentals of unity in diversity to maintain peace, harmony, stability, and prosperity among its citizens.

The history of the world reveals that all the great leaders like Mahatma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela followed the principles of unity in diversity to bring about social and political change in the world. 

Significance of Unity in Diversity

Unity in Diversity signifies the following:

• Social Cohesion
• Economic Growth
• Global Peace
• Cultural Enrichment
• Personal Growth

Thus, Unity in diversity is not just a concept, it is the way of living life, it is the feeling of embracing people around you accepting them as they are, and living without conflicts and discrimination. So, every individual must play their part to contribute to this noble cause either through interactions with others or by making efforts to bridge the divides among people.

Also Read: Revolutions in India

Unity in diversity is a concept that reflects a sense of bonding among individuals who are different from each other in all aspects but they follow the same rule and live in harmony. India is the best example that perfectly signifies unity in diversity.

Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India coined the term “Unity in Diversity”, in his famous book “The Discovery of India”. This phrase signifies the feeling of oneness among the Indians. 

India is called Unity in diversity because, here the people belonging to different cultures, speak variable languages, yet their hearts are connected and they live together in harmony and follow the common rules written in the Constitution of India.

This was all about an essay on Unity in Diversity. The skill of writing an essay comes in handy when appearing for standardized language tests, thinking of taking one soon? Leverage Live provides the best online test prep for the same. Register today and if you wish to study abroad then contact our experts at 1800572000 .

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Unity in what?

There can be no bracketing of moral issues in a genuine dialogue about recomposing Christian unity.

May 15, 2024 George Weigel Essay , Features 16 Print

Among the many urgent questions raised by the Synods on the Family in 2014 and 2015 and the current Synod on Synodality – questions that will inevitably bear on the next papal conclave – is that of unity: in what, precisely, does the unity of the Church consist?

What is the content of the “one” in the Creed’s affirmation of “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church?”

The Synods on the Family grappled with this in their debates on worthiness to receive Holy Communion: Could those in canonically irregular marriages, who were not living in unity with the settled teaching and pastoral practice of the Church, participate fully in the sacrament of unity, the Eucharist? Or ought they refrain from receiving Holy Communion while still joining the community in offering true worship to the Father?

The ambiguities in  Amoris Laetitia , the post-synodal apostolic exhortation that followed those Synods, did not resolve that question. Rather, it deepened the concern that fault lines were opening in the Church, with some local Church interpreting  Amoris Laetitia  according to the line they had taken at the Synods (i.e., those in irregular marriages could receive Holy Communion) and other local churches interpreting the apostolic exhortation differently (those in irregular marriages should refrain from receiving Holy Communion). Those fault lines were deep indeed. For how could it be that a source of sanctifying grace in Germany was a grave sin ten miles away, on the Polish side of the German-Polish border?

This, by the way, was a concern the Group of Thirteen Cardinals (now infamous in some circles) considered raising in their letter to the Pope at the outset of Synod-2015. In that letter, the cardinals politely requested a revision of the Synod procedures so that there would be a more robust synodal debate, and a voting process in which the Synod fathers rendered their judgments on specific propositions.

An early draft of that letter warned against the possibility of the Catholic Church coming to resemble the local-option Anglican Communion, in which some constituent national churches believed and practiced in one way, and other constituent churches believed and practiced the opposite: that, it was suggested, was the path to true schism. At the end, the cardinals decided to focus on synodal procedures only and this yellow caution flag was not included in the letter’s final text.

Yet the concern remained. And it has been intensified since, not least because of diverse reactions to the December 2023 declaration of the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith on the possibility of blessing those in same-sex unions and relationships. The churches of Belgium and Germany applauded (and continued to do what they had already been doing) and the churches of Africa registered a firm “No, thank you.”

These fault lines, and others, will help define the debate – and let us pray that it will be a real debate, not some ersatz and manipulated “Conversation in the Spirit” – at the Synod in October 2024.

The question of the content of the Church’s unity was clarified by Pope John Paul II during his first pastoral pilgrimage to the United States in October 1979. Prior to the Pope’s visit, U.S.-based ecumenical dialogues had focused on core doctrinal issues, “bracketing” moral questions on which there was deep disagreement between Catholics and their Protestant dialogue partners. John Paul had a different view.

After greeting the ecumenical congregation gathered in the chapel of Washington’s Trinity College as “beloved Christian brethren and fellow disciples of the Lord Jesus,” the Pope celebrated their common proclamation that “there is one Mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus [1 Tim. 2.5]” and noted with satisfaction their common love for “Sacred Scripture, which we recognize as the inspired word of God.” The Pope also cited with regret “the deep division” between Christian communities “which still exists over moral and ethical matters.”

And then, in one sentence, he shut down the ecumenical cafeteria: “The moral life and the life of faith are so deeply united that it is impossible to divide them.” Message: There can be no bracketing of moral issues in a genuine dialogue about recomposing Christian unity.

If that is true for ecumenism, it is certainly true for the unity of the Catholic Church. The content of the “one” in the Nicene affirmation of “one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church” is a unity in faith: a unity in the truths we know from revelation and reason. Local-option Catholicism is not Catholicism. National Catholicism is not Catholicism. The truths of faith – which include the moral truths that facilitate human flourishing and beatitude – are universal.

Which is to say, catholic and Catholic.

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13 Comments

Divisions are meant to convince us about our (original) sin and the true unity is only possible amidst saints and that is why in Paradise alone the one true (triumphant) catholic Church exist.

The worldly/militant church can never be fully unified as God gently hints us by the 6000 years of history, yet our longing to make a paradise here without freeing from sin not only idolises doctrines and laws originated from purported saints which is used to guide us to the fullness of the Truth in God’s grand scheme but often foolishly proselyte as if mere obedience to it may somehow save us, that too often ignoring the fact that without God (individualy) given Faith (upon His pleasing) none are saved from their eternal death nor God offered everlasting joy (Hope) the prerequisite to fetch it.

Bergoglioism’s efforts to transform the Catholic Church into a liberal Protestant Ecclesial Community provides no hope of Catholic Unity but ever greater disunity, as the Bergoglio German Synodal Disaster has proven already.

Cancel Culture needs reverse driving, pulling the plug on the Novos Ordo McCarrick Legacy Band

Mr Cracked Nut, heart full for love of Christ Jesus, “Liberal Protestant Ecclesial Community”. Bergoglio is much more; he wants to replace the Truth and holy Commandments with his evil desires. The council did ardently strive for Christian unity. The Papal Palace is vacant while Bergoglio stays at the guest house. My problem with Trads is that you throw the Holy Mass Novus Ordo together with McCarrick, the political cancel culture and liberal derailment. They are different things. No Rite in the Holy Apostolic Church should claim all truth for themselves while loathing another. “THIS IS MY COMMANDMENT LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I LOVE YOU” John 16. Love one another is His Commandment! “God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God and God in him” (1 John 4:11); without love we will not remain in Him. Not sentimental but straight from the Heart of God. I do enjoy your comments. Jesus loves you and I do too!

Who denies validity of the NO? Lawler’s commentary reasons that the majority of those who attend the NO form of the Mass overwhelmingly deny the validity of the NO Mass! How so? Over 70% of NO attendees deny the Sacramental and Real Presence of Jesus in the Body and Blood in the Mass. Therefore, which group finds any Mass more valid? NO Mass attendees or TLM attendees?

http://www.catholicculture.org/commentary/who-denies-novus-ordo-is-valid-prepare-for-surprise/

Why does illogic persist in positing that those who love the TLM consider the NO Mass to be invalid? I am wondering and waiting for a logical answer….

The current papacy seems to care only about unity in raw numbers translating to the collection plate. Do whatever you want, but be enrolled, and most importantly, GIVE.

Anything else is just a distraction from that mission. Meanwhile, it cannot even generate enough priests to man the parishes it has.

Typical corporate behavior, whatever they are doing is not working, so that means just do even more of the same, and then it surely will work.

“Union with God? What’s that? We HAVE communion, and that’s all the union they need!”

But the emptying parishes say differently.

As one form of engagement in the world, ST. PAUL at the Areopagus noticed that among the pagan idols an altar to “the Unknown God.” He accompanied—but most of the gathering synodally “walked together” and away….So, next in Corinth St. Paul then centered his very non-polyhedral message, preaching only “Jesus Christ and Him crucified” (1 Cor 2:1-2). The Scandal of the Cross…

The PARALLEL today is external and valuaable-but-amorphous “fraternity” coupled with (!) internal divisiveness—the separation between supposedly “abstract” dogmatic affirmations and “concrete” and contradictory exemptions. Witness now the bizarre “unity” of blessed Fiducia Supplicans, incoherently positioned in front of Dignitas Infinita…

Dignitas Infinita, which appeals more to modern history’s Areopagus—the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights than to the Natural Law as elevated by the very Word of God. How to BOTH walk with AND robustly evangelize a distracted, incendiary, and fallen world? How to not replace the apostolic Second Vatican Council with a semi-synodal plebiscite?

The contrived “unity” of Esperanto and footloose Forwardism isn’t enough.

The Holy Ghost Is The Source Of Unity In Christ’s One, Holy, Catholic, And Apostolic Church , and thus The Holy Ghost must proceed from both The Father and The Son, (Filioque).

“This picture of the Spirit as the mutual love between the Father and Son goes back to Augustine who wrote: “And the Holy Spirit, according to the Holy Scriptures, is neither of the Father alone, nor of the Son alone, but of both; and so intimates to us a mutual love, wherewith the Father and the Son reciprocally love …”

And thus we can know through both Faith and Reason, that “It is not possible to have Sacramental Communion without Ecclesiastical Communion “, due to The Unity Of The Holy Ghost, for to deny The Unity Of The Holy Ghost, Is To Deny The Divinity Of The Most Holy And Undivided Blessed Trinity, which is apostasy.

Our unity of faith and doctrine is essential for several reasons. It ensures that we all worship the same God and follow the path laid out by Christ. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, where we can learn and grow from each other. Additionally, a unified voice of the Church carries greater weight when addressing the world on matters of faith and morality. This is vital to fulfill the Great Commission. However, we must acknowledge that the journey of faith is a personal one. Not everyone grasps complex doctrines immediately. Doubts and questions often arise, and achieving a full understanding of the faith can take time. The Church, as a loving mother, recognizes this. We are all at different stages on our spiritual path. Therefore, though it is paramount that the Church demonstrates unity in core teachings, the Church must also encourage open and respectful dialogue about personal faith. Through study, prayer, and discussion, our understanding deepens. The Holy Spirit guides us on this journey, illuminating our minds and hearts to the truths of the Gospel. Let us pray for one another: let us pray that God grants us all a deeper understanding of his will and the strength to live according to his teachings. let us engage in respectful dialogue. Let us show patience and understanding and be supportive and encouraging towards those who are struggling. This is a synodal way that can be appreciated. Ultimately, unity does not mean individual uniformity, but it does mean the Church must speak about Tradition, Doctrine, and Dogma with a single voice.

First, I am a fan of George Weigel. Our unity of faith and doctrine is essential for several reasons. It ensures that we all worship the same God and follow the path laid out by Christ. It fosters a sense of community and belonging, where we can learn and grow from each other. Additionally, a unified voice of the Church carries greater weight when addressing the world on matters of faith and morality. This is vital to fulfill the Great Commission. However, we must acknowledge that the journey of faith is a personal one. Not everyone grasps complex doctrines immediately. Doubts and questions often arise, and achieving a full understanding of the faith can take time. The Church, as a loving mother, recognizes this. We are all at different stages on our spiritual path. Therefore, though it is paramount that the Church demonstrates unity in core teachings, the Church must also encourage open and respectful dialogue about personal faith. Through study, prayer, and discussion, our understanding deepens. The Holy Spirit guides us on this journey, illuminating our minds and hearts to the truths of the Gospel. Let us pray for one another: let us pray that God grants us all a deeper understanding of his will and the strength to live according to his teachings. let us engage in respectful dialogue. Let us show patience and understanding and be supportive and encouraging towards those who are struggling. This is a synodal way that can be appreciated. Ultimately, unity does not mean individual uniformity, but it does mean the Church must speak about Tradition, Doctrine, and Dogma with a single voice.

The last paragraph in the article sums up the issue very well.

I do question the phrase “The ambiguity of Amoris Laetitia” and different Churches interpreting it differently, as though it is not clear. There were bishops who questioned Pope Francis whether it meant that communion could be given to those in “irregular” marriages, and Pope Francis answered that there was no other way to interpret it. At least that is what I read.

There is a somewhat frequent effort to interpret Pope Francis statements as being in line with previous Church teachings. A sometimes difficult task I would say.

That should read:

“This picture of the Spirit as the mutual love between the Father and Son goes back to Augustine who wrote: “And the Holy Spirit, according to the Holy Scriptures, is neither of the Father alone, nor of the Son alone, but of both; and so intimates to us a mutual love, wherewith the Father and the Son reciprocally love …”

And thus we can know through both Faith and Reason, that “It is not possible to have Sacramental Communion without Ecclesiastical Communion “, due to The Unity Of The Holy Ghost, it Is “Through, With, And In Christ, In The Unity Of The Holy Ghost (Filioque), that Holy Mother Church, outside of which, there is no Salvation , due to The Unity Of The Holy Ghost (Filioque) exists.

That the cardinals did not raise the ‘yellow flag’ on the disparity rather than unanimity on moral doctrine, well discussed by Weigel, indicates the absence of leadership backbone throughout the Church. We hear instead an occasional murmur. Murmurs are not faith inspired conviction. Lacking committed leadership the Church has become divided, Weigel cites the German Polish sin here virtue there result, two churches within the Church. We [that is some] may sing the praises of Pope Francis although however lusty his ecclesial philosophy is largely the reason. We lack the fire and knowledge of the two great Alexandrian patriarchs Athanasius and Cyril.

The Church has gone into survival mode. Hogs are feasting on the abundant acorns from our ancient tree. But they cannot eat all of them!

The future Pope BXVI (Ratzinger) said in 1969: “From the crisis of today the Church of tomorrow will emerge — a Church that has lost much. She will become small and will have to start afresh more or less from the beginning … As the number of her adherents diminishes, so it will lose many of her social privileges. In contrast to an earlier age, it will be seen much more as a voluntary society, entered only by free decision. As a small society, it will make much bigger demands on the initiative of her individual members. But in all of the changes at which one might guess, the Church will find her essence afresh and with full conviction in that which was always at her center: faith in the triune God, in Jesus Christ, the Son of God made man, in the presence of the Spirit until the end of the world. … The Church will be a more spiritual Church, not presuming upon a political mandate, flirting as little with the Left as with the Right. It will be hard going for the Church, for the process of crystallization and clarification will cost her much valuable energy. It will make her poor and cause her to become the Church of the meek. The process will be all the more arduous, for sectarian narrow-mindedness as well as pompous self-will will have to be shed.”

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Guest Essay

Slovakia Is at a Dangerous Moment

By Alena Krempaska

Ms. Krempaska is the program director at the Human Rights Institute, an advocacy organization based in Bratislava, Slovakia, from which she wrote.

“Fico was shot.” The message arrived in one of my group chats shortly after 3 p.m. on Wednesday. I checked the news and forwarded what I could find out to my friends and family. Information was limited, and headlines like “Robert Fico Was Shot After the Government Meeting in Handlova” seemed absurdly matter-of-fact.

Yes, Mr. Fico, Slovakia’s prime minister, has been a controversial figure. But could he really have been shot multiple times on a weekday afternoon in May? On Friday, he remained hospitalized in serious but stable condition after undergoing surgery.

Slovakian politics are deeply polarized in ways that have tipped into rhetorical and even physical violence. Journalist and activists, particularly women, have received online threats. In 2016 I was attacked on the way home from work . In 2022 two men were fatally shot outside a gay bar in an attack that may have been politically motivated. Last fall, two former ministers brawled at a press event.

But in large part, the hateful rhetoric — of which there is lots — is confined to the internet, and it has become normalized. Lawmakers, activists and journalists take it to be the price of participating in civic life. We reassure ourselves that those who write threatening messages online are not usually the ones who carry them out.

That’s not to say the atmosphere hasn’t had an impact on politics. Zuzana Caputova, the progressive departing president and a civil rights lawyer, has been open about the fact that death threats against her and her family helped her decide not to run again.

But someone has now shot the prime minister. In retrospect, it seems that the hateful rhetoric was gradually, inevitably building to violence, and we are waiting in this dangerous moment to see what comes next. Either the attack will trigger harsh action from the government and make everything worse. Or cooler heads will prevail, and we will pause, pick up the pieces of our fractured country and try to put them back together.

It’s hard to overstate the magnitude of the presence of Mr. Fico in Slovakian politics. A former Communist Party member and a founding member of the Smer party, which, in its early incarnation, was a party of the center-left , he has been prime minister four times since 2006. His relationship with the mainstream media started frosty and deteriorated from there . There have been frequent allegations of corruption. Anti-corruption protesters in 2016 demanded, unsuccessfully, that he and his deputy resign.

But it was the murder of the journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancée, who were shot dead in their apartment in 2018 when Mr. Kuciak was in the middle of an investigation into political corruption, that really seemed to split Slovakian politics. Large-scale demonstrations — some with mock gallows and coffins — again demanded his departure. That time they succeeded.

Afterward, the public remained roughly divided in two camps: Those for Mr. Fico, and those against. People who were pro-Fico skewed working class and nationalist; those against were mostly members of liberal, wealthier elites.

When Mr. Fico attempted a comeback last fall, he embraced right-wing views, although his party still positions itself as social democrats, and he won handily.

The political atmosphere of the last few months has been particularly febrile. Since Mr. Fico’s return to office his coalition has embarked on a controversial bid to replace the public broadcaster, and he has dismantled an anti-corruption watchdog, despite warnings from the European Union and more protests. In April we had the presidential election — which Ms. Caputova did not run in — and Peter Pellegrini , an ally of Mr. Fico’s, won. From there we went almost directly into campaign season for the European Union elections in June.

The division seemed to harden with each election, each political rally, each campaign remark that became less and less about issues and policy and more like a Marvel-esque battle between good and evil. It came from both sides. Last year, Mr. Fico’s opponents suggested that he would turn the country over to the “mafia.” And Ms. Caputova sued Mr. Fico after he suggested she was a U.S. puppet and a supporter of George Soros.

But, until this week, most of us still thought that this was just how we do politics now.

A few hours after the shooting, video footage emerged and the online activities and opinions of the man suspected in the attack were quickly scrutinized. Everyone assumed it was political. “He must have been a progressive liberal” was one theory that circulated. The actual motives are still unclear. The interior minister described the attack as “politically motivated” but said the suspect did not belong to a “radicalized group.” He was identified only as Juraj C.

After the shooting, some lawmakers lost their tempers and continued in the usual way. “This is your fault,” the vice chairman of Smer yelled at opposition lawmakers. Another lawmaker accused journalists of being responsible, and declared the beginning of a political war. Thankfully, many other voices appealed for unity and for people to stop fueling the atmosphere of hate. Mr. Pellegrini, who won the recent presidential election, and others urged a pause in the campaigning for the European Union elections.

We know now that as we talk relentlessly about a fight between good and evil, someone, somewhere, might be taking us at our word.

Alena Krempaska is the program director at the Human Rights Institute, an advocacy organization based in Bratislava, Slovakia.

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No one is rocking in the ‘free world’

The Secretary of State jammed out in a Kyiv basement bar to Neil Young’s “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World.” But that “free world” is struggling to win.

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It was a little bit on the nose. On a trip to Kyiv, Secretary of State Antony Blinken swapped his suit for a more casual button-down and appeared, a guitar slung over his shoulder, at the front of a stage in a bar in the Ukrainian capital. There — before a crowd of locals, U.S. diplomats and the traveling press pack that accompanies him on his official trips — Blinken performed a rendition of the 1989 song “Keep on Rockin’ in the Free World” by Canadian American musician Neil Young.

According to my colleague Michael Birnbaum, who was in attendance Tuesday night, the audience “erupted in applause when Blinken belted out the chorus: ‘Keep on rockin’ in the free world.’” Before the United States’ top diplomat did his crooning, he offered an explanation for his chosen performance.

“The United States is with you. So much of the world is with you,” Blinken said as he readied to perform alongside a Kyiv punk band. “And they’re fighting, not just for a free Ukraine, but for the free world. And the free world is with you too.”

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The next day, though, Blinken had to face up to some more sober realities. At a news conference next to his Ukrainian counterpart, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, the duo reckoned with Russia’s new offensive on the major Ukrainian city of Kharkiv and the stretched resources of Ukraine’s embattled military. Kuleba pointed to the harmful impact of delays in foreign military aid, including a major holdup by Republicans in Congress that stalled the delivery of desperately needed munitions and arms to Ukraine’s front lines.

“When a Ukrainian infantryman or artilleryman has everything that he or she needs, we are winning,” Kuleba said . “Every time there are delays in supplies and insufficient supplies, we are not winning. The law of the war is cruel but very clear.”

The “free world” invoked by Blinken is struggling to win. In the shadow of the war in Ukraine, the world’s two great autocratic powers — China and Russia — are finding strength in each other. On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping met in Beijing , a visit that reflects not simply Russia’s dependence on China in the face of Western sanctions, but a growing convergence in values and political priorities. “Together, we defend the principles of justice and a democratic world order that reflects multipolar realities,” Putin said after their meetings, invoking talking points that set their countries in opposition to a U.S.-led international order.

“China’s ongoing diplomatic and material support for Russia and the war against Ukraine — even as Beijing portrays itself as a potential mediator — troubles democracies,” my colleagues reported . “Xi is particularly interested in Russia winning in Ukraine because of what it could mean for his oft-stated ambitions to take control of Taiwan.”

More than two years into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Putin and Xi may engage in a substantive debrief. “It is time to compare notes with China now that Putin believes Russia is gaining an upper hand against Ukraine and has a bigger say in whether and when to end the war,” Wan Qingsong, an associate professor at the Center for Russian Studies at East China Normal University in Shanghai, told my colleagues . “China may have a different assessment but needs to listen to what Russia has to say.”

Beyond the strategic deliberations, a major cultural shift is taking place within Russia, thanks to its pivot to China. “From the other side of the Iron Curtain, Europe was seen as a beacon of human rights, prosperity and technological development, a space that many Soviet citizens aspired to be part of,” wrote Alexander Gabuev , director of the Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center. “Now a growing number of educated Russians, on top of feeling bitterness toward Europe for its punitive sanctions, see China as a technologically advanced and economically superior power to which Russia is ever more connected. With no easy way back to normal ties with the West, that’s unlikely to change anytime soon.”

Meanwhile, in the West, liberal democracies and the principles they supposedly espouse are broadly under stress. The Biden administration’s moral grandstanding that complements its more tangible support for Ukraine has cratered in the war-ravaged moonscapes of Gaza , where the United States finds itself aiding and abetting a military campaign that has led to more than 34,600 Palestinians killed — many of them women and children — and triggered a rolling humanitarian disaster and an ongoing trial over alleged genocide at the International Court of Justice.

Elections and other political developments in Europe are seeing the steady advance of illiberal forces. These include factions more sympathetic to the Kremlin than the government Blinken was backing in Kyiv. On Thursday, it appeared that the Dutch far right — once kept firmly out of the political mainstream — will be a major player in a new government in the Netherlands after weeks of wrangling over a ruling coalition. Over the objections of E.U. officials and liberal politicians, as well as mass protests in Tbilisi, Georgia’s Russia-friendly government approved a controversial “foreign agent” law that critics fear will restrict civil society in the country. The legislation, which borrows in spirit from existing laws in Russia, may be aped by nationalist politicians in other European countries.

And then there’s the United States itself, where the return to office of former president Donald Trump , no matter the sprawling legal cases against him, looks a distinct possibility. Speculation is rife that a Trump second term could see the United States either formally leave NATO or functionally turn its back on the Western military alliance.

“Without U.S. leadership in NATO, cohesion and unity among members would be difficult to maintain,” wrote Hans Binnendijk, Alexander Vershbow and R.D. Hooker Jr. (who briefly served in the Trump White House) in an essay in Foreign Affairs.

“NATO without the United States might limp along, but it is more likely that the alliance would collapse altogether,” they added. “The European Union is not in a position to take NATO’s place any time soon, as its military capabilities are limited and more capable of managing regional crises than fighting major wars. Even if a rump NATO survives without strong American involvement, the challenges of divided leadership, inadequate deterrence capabilities, and an assertive adversary would heighten the risk of war with Russia, a major power bent on overturning the liberal international order.”

The free world, in other words, could get all the more rocked.