- Commonwealth unification movement
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The Commonwealth unification movement is a largely unorganised socio-political movement advocating closer political affiliation between member states of the Commonwealth of Nations. In some cases, this movement seeks the eventual formation of some type of supranational, federalist or economic union within the Commonwealth.[1]
These movements exist most prominently within Western countries. They most commonly support the possibility of union between developed members of the Commonwealth, generally excluding states that are under-developed or politically unstable.[2] Most commonly associated with these movements are Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, for which the acronym CANZUK is sometimes used, though Singapore and Brunei could also be included. An economic union consisting of these four states would become the third largest economy in the world after the Eurozone and the United States.[3]
In the UK, the movement is sometimes seen as a possible alternative to the European Union. The United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP) seeks to withdraw from the EU and strengthen ties between Britain and the Commonwealth, which would include the negotiation of a Commonwealth Free Trade Area.[4]
Various names have been proposed for the possibility of such a union, such as the Commonwealth Confederation and the United Commonwealth.[5]
See also
- British Empire
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Commonwealth realm
- Imperial Federation
- Political union
- Federalism
- Supranationalism
References
- ^ "Commonwealth Union". Jackson, N. http://www.commonwealth-union.co.nr/. Retrieved 2009-10-30. Activist website, with link to an online petition.
- ^ "Commonwealth Nations Research Society". http://cnrsociety.org/. Retrieved 2009-10-30. Canadian-based political movement.
- ^ The World Bank: World Development Indicators. Gross domestic product (2008) World Bank. 19/04/2010. Retrieved 22/04/2010.
- ^ Out of the EU, Into the World ukip.org. March 2010. Retrieved 22/04/2010.
- ^ Commonwealth Union Institute McArdle, T (2005). This Historic Challenge, American Chronicle.
External links
Categories:- Political pressure groups of the United Kingdom
- Commonwealth of Nations
- Foreign relations of the Commonwealth of Nations
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