CANZUK: The importance of our shared cultural heritage

A people are only as strong as their cultural identity. Identity is all.

Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom are four countries separated by many thousands of miles. There is a real risk that even if loose defensive and economic agreements could be reached, each country will drift apart. Canada to the United States, the UK to the EU, Australia and New Zealand to the Indo-Pacific. The solution is to look beyond matters of economics and defence. The CANZUK countries are far more than mere allies, they are sister countries. Our shared cultural identity provides unity and stability. For the long-term prospects of CANZUK, this is of vital importance.

The concept of ‘CANZUK’ has at its core the recognition that the four countries have common values and heritage. The Conservative Friends of CANZUK exists to respect and promote this. We wish to drive CANZUK forward as a modern and sustainable organisation. Modern because CANZUK must fit within geopolitical realities. Sustainable because a recognition and promotion of this heritage will provide the locus for CANZUK connexion. More broadly, a highlighting of our shared heritage will, we hope, bolster the cultural cores of the component realms. Once we have this foundation, we can deepen the defensive and economic ties we a believe will make CANZUK a real force in the world.

The shared cultural heritage of the CANZUK nations is immense. Whilst the Commonwealth-at-large has great cultural capital, it pales when compared to the CANZUK ties. What are the main cultural links? I believe our shared monarchy, language, Anglican background, parliamentary and legal traditions are the lynchpins of our cultural heritage. Beyond this, we have softer cultural links such as sport. But these are not the unifiers of the CANZUK countries. 

The great tragedy is that our cultural heritage is seldom discussed by politicians. Politicians and thinkers are actively discussing the strengthening of military and trading ties. In some cases (AUKUS, visa restrictions being lifted, shared diplomatic bases in Central Asia etc.), we can see the CANZUK countries actively drawing closer. But our cultural ties are ignored. This is not because we think them unimportant. It is because they already exist, and we take them for granted.

Taking culture for granted is a deadly mistake. Many supranational unions have formed, with all of them suffering from serious internal divisions. Economic divisions, such as those found within the European Union, can be cured overtime by raising each country to a similar economic standard. Overcoming the cultural divide is far more difficult. The European Union, East African Confederation, and other regional organisations have all seen political and economic ideals hamstrung by a lack of cultural understanding. Of course, the Conservative Friends of CANZUK are not calling for a political union. Nevertheless, a strong cultural bond will render any deepening of relations increasingly viable. 

CANZUK benefits from being able to leapfrog these issues from the outset. We have four democratic and wealthy countries with more similarities than any other grouping bar the Nordics and Benelux. Yes, the CANZUK countries are separated by great distances and tied to different geopolitical zones. But this is a strength. If the cultural ties are strong enough to provide for a common purpose, large distances transform from being a hindrance to allowing for greater diplomatic, economic and political reach.

Imagine a future in which CANZUK is a reality. With deepened defensive and economic ties, the CANZUK countries advocate for liberal, democratic ideals across North America, Europe, and the Indo-Pacific. United by common culture and shared traditions, the CANZUK countries punch above their weight. There are divisions and occasional rifts, but these are not life-threatening. The heart of CANZUK is a shared meta-identity: we may be Australians, Britons, Canadians, or New Zealanders, but we all share a common heritage. It is this which will give CANZUK its necessary strength. It is this which will allow us to be a force for good. 

This is why I am so focused on the cultural elements of CANZUK. If we nurture our heritage, CANZUK will jump from concept to reality.

Elliott Malik

Director and Secretary of the Conservative Friends of CANZUK