A closer commonwealth

[Shrapnel]

A 21st Century revival of the British Commonwealth, a united commonwealth of one nation founded on common cultural, economics and political grounds. Spanning the globe, a commonwealth no longer dominated by Britain, but solely called that based on culture. A commonwealth where people of all its nations could take the lead. Canadian and British forces serve alongside each other in Afghanistan, and until recently Australians also fought side by side with British troops in Iraq; are commonwealth links strong enough to start to forge one nation again?


What are your views, possible? Maybe just an Anglo-Saxon commonwealth of Canada, Britain, New-Zealand and Australia; or one of all the commonwealth.

[6th Vigil]

Wow whats with all the sudden interest in the commonwealth?

On Topic:

I voted for "yes it would be nice but the countries have drifted too far apart" as I think a closer bond between the commonwealth nations would be desirable. Of course i'm not talking about a proper federalised union but along the lines with what we already have with better cooperation.

Unfortunately this would likely never happen as countries look towards geographical alliances, e.g. the EU, rather than cultural. Already there are strong republican movements in Australia and Canada which, although there are many republics in the commonwealth, would break another bond with the "motherland". If they wish to rid themselves of the monarchy i can hardly see how those countries would be willing to tie themselves, further, to the UK at this point.

[saglam2000]

good idea, but since u had your way i get mine.....now i'll propose the commonwealth of all Turkic nations!


but still a commonwealth would benefit all the nations...

[Icefrisco]

I think that its a good idea but it would be controversial in many countries. In Kenya the businessmen and the growing white popualtion would support it but many of the rural people would not. South Africa would also have a similar dilemna. I don't think Canada would join since it is no longer a WASP country.

[Rootsie]

Yes. We should return to the Commonwealth. Exchange it for the EU

[skag]

good idea : get out of EU!!

(don t worry, i did not voted)

[Icefrisco]

good idea, but since u had your way i get mine.....now i'll propose the commonwealth of all Turkic nations!

Turkey isn't really 'Turkish'. Most Turks are just descendants of Greeks who converted to Islam. If Turks in Turkey are really Turks, how come they don't look Asian? Turks in Turkmenistan do.

[Exarch]

no
all this obsessing over 'commonwealths' just compels ethnonationalim
it's just a way for armchair generals to know where not to point their missiles

[shadyrome]

Turkey isn't really 'Turkish'. Most Turks are just descendants of Greeks who converted to Islam. If Turks in Turkey are really Turks, how come they don't look Asian? Turks in Turkmenistan do.

nvm

[Thorn777]

The EU should invade GB and then inslave you guys so your "commonwealth" friends buy you out. Case closed.

[skag]

The EU should invade GB and then inslave you guys so your "commonwealth" friends buy you out. Case closed.

LOL

[Thorn777]

LOL

Whats so funny? We can then give the Roma across Europe their own country in England. Just England because I hate to see those barve Scots, jolly Irish and odd Welsh go though.

^dont really mean that

[imb39]

Won't happen. Australia felt betrayed, with justification, when Britain chose to focus on Europe and has built up good relations with America, especially in terms of trade. Australia's destiny is tied to the Pacific Rim rather than old ties to the Motherland.

Likewise, Canada's relationship with America is more important than with Britain.

Nice, romantic idea, but it won't happen. We're too far apart and trade with others.

[ivan_the_terrible]

Won't happen. Australia felt betrayed, with justification, when Britain chose to focus on Europe and has built up good relations with America, especially in terms of trade. Australia's destiny is tied to the Pacific Rim rather than old ties to the Motherland.

Likewise, Canada's relationship with America is more important than with Britain.

Nice, romantic idea, but it won't happen. We're too far apart and trade with others.

Agree, though I would add that Australia's destiny is in Asia as well as the Pacific Rim. It's already happening economically (and footballicly).

now i'll propose the commonwealth of all Turkic nations!

I'm originally from Kyrgyzstan, and still have some family there. Anyway, in recent years all central asia (except Kazakhstan) has been getting worse and worse, and thats despite continuous investment from Turkey. Its just that Kyrgyz people, for example are inherently uninclined towards democratic, non-corrupt society. So they've been milking foreigners for their money, and now after several years they've seen that Turks don't want to give them money for nothing, and they aren't such great friends anymore.

In fact, at the risk of going off on a tangent here, Kyrgyz and other central asian Turkic people seem incapable of running any kind of state properly at all. It's because their society was still very primitive - essentially tribal - when the Russian empire reached them. Of course since they aren't inherently stupid they lived quite well in the european order that was maintainted by Russia (and later SU). But now that no one is running things for them, they've reverted back to their tribal ways. For instance, in Kyrgyzstan there are only several powerful tribes/clans that compete for power, and when one of them gets it, they share everything amongst their own first of all, while fighting off competetion. The result is a corrupt state, where anyone who doesn't look Asiatic is practically a 2nd-class citizen, while the majority of locals who aren't part of the powerful tribes barely get by.

Uzbeks are quite different. They tend to be more honest and hard working, though their state is not much better.

Anyway, to link this back to the commonwealth topic in some way; Turkic central asia definitely needs a hegemon to keep order. Turkish private entities have been doing this on a very small scale through investment and business. Though they don't work for free, so when they don't get a return from the corrupt Kyrgyzs, they tend to pull out. The only other viable alternative is Russia, who has been the traditional hegemon in the area in the past.

[Arto]

No, let's just keep it this way: If it ain't broke don't fix it.

[Stavroforos]

I assume most of the "commonwealth" countries which have moved on from the days when mother Britain ruled them won't be too keen on being dependent on it again. So, there goes the last gasp for those of you Brits who still long for your empire.

[King Edward III]

A 21st Century revival of the British Commonwealth, a united commonwealth of one nation founded on common cultural, economics and political grounds. Spanning the globe, a commonwealth no longer dominated by Britain, but solely called that based on culture. A commonwealth where people of all its nations could take the lead. Canadian and British forces serve alongside each other in Afghanistan, and until recently Australians also fought side by side with British troops in Iraq; are commonwealth links strong enough to start to forge one nation again?


What are your views, possible? Maybe just an Anglo-Saxon commonwealth of Canada, Britain, New-Zealand and Australia; or one of all the commonwealth.

The chance to federalize the empire has long since past.

[Ardruire Iacób]

The chance to federalize the empire has long since past.

The first four words are rather superfluous.