Europe – History of Unity and Identity

“United in diversity”, “Unie dans la diversité” – this is the official motto of the European Union. It almost seems self-evident, as this statement has been part of the European discourse for decades. The nation state continues to provide the model for “unity”, the dimensions of which are determined by national territory, constitution, politics, culture and society, and to a lesser extent also by the economy, national citizenship and, with significantly reduced weight in the present day, the majority religion or denomination. This type of unity occurs in many forms in Europe; there is diversity in this regard, but it inevitably conflicts with every other concept of unity. The situation is not new, but has characterised Europe for centuries. “Unity” and “diversity” not only present a constant dilemma, but are also the main characters in an eternal drama of European history. For centuries, preference was given to the ideal of unity, without it ever becoming a reality.