> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://gitbook.jur.io/wiki-network-state/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://gitbook.jur.io/wiki-network-state/what-is-a-network-state/network-state/network-union.md).

# Network Union

A network union is a social graph organized in a tree-like structure with a <mark style="background-color:orange;">leader</mark>, a purpose, a crypto-based financial and messaging system, and a daily call-to-action. It’s the underpinning of the new nation behind a network state. It forms dense peer-to-peer connections, not simply leader-to-follower. And it acclimatizes its members to working together as a society towards a common purpose.

That *purpose* makes it different from a social network like Twitter, a subreddit, or even a DAO. The purpose isn’t to <mark style="background-color:orange;">waste time, or aimlessly speculate</mark> on a token. It’s to advance the collective interests of its members through daily actions, organized by a network union leader.

That common purpose creates a focal point for culture to grow off of, and gradually turns a group of people into a 1-network, a network with national consciousness, and the foundation of a network state. Think about it: <mark style="background-color:orange;">if people won’t even show up to vote online</mark>, they don’t care about the community. Conversely, if they’ve managed to do great things together as part of a network union, they’ll be able to do more.

And that is in fact [Renan’s](https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/9059260-to-have-done-great-things-together-to-want-to-do) definition of a nation:

> To have done great things together, to want to do more, such are the essential conditions to form a people…Man is not a slave to his race, or his tongue, or his religion.

See also this [earlier piece](https://thenetworkstate.com/network-union) on network unions, before we tightened up some of the definitions.