THE IDEA OF ARAB UNITY - A Dream Deferred or a Path to Progress

Arab unity over the last century has been in the words, minds and lore of all Arabs. This idea that all Arabs have a collective consciousness that makes them a powerful group of connected people rose to glory over a half century, only to come quickly crashing down thereafter.

So, what make the Arabs think this way of themselves? What are the unifying factors, and what are the opposing realities that combat this dream of a union?