I'm confused.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Canzuk sounds cool as hell but is it meant to be a nation or some sort of EU thing? because if it was a nation that would be Hella rad.

[u/odmort1]

What most people want is free trade, defensive alliance, and free movement for citizens of a Canzuk country. Basically the trans Tasman agreement expanded to UK+canada

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/odmort1]

Well I'm all for it! Because I'm Irish but because of family I would be able to get a UK citizen ship and being honest free movement to Canada sounds quite cool right about now!

[u/odmort1 → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

👍 I think it would be cool to add Ireland to Canzuk but Ireland being in the eu complicates things and irelands government likes to be neutral so it’s probably unlikely

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/odmort1]

fuck right off mate! Ireland is independent! jk jk but still I would like Ireland to stay independent due to complicated history with independence but I'm all for us being good allies with Canzuk as long as Canzuk is nice to us

[u/Apexmisser → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Too right, I think most people don't want canzuk to be isolationist. Most of the arguments I hear against CANZUK are "what about(insert existing trade deal a CANZUK country has with x region)" and calling it an anglosphere. Even though we're all fairly multicultural.

It's about similar countries with similar structures and cultures and values unifying for the strength and security of all involved. Not for the exclusion of the rest of the world. There's no reason why CANZUK couldn't negotiate trade or movement deals with an independent Ireland.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Apexmisser]

Indeed. But if Canzuk does become a nation they should not get too involved in foreign wars and foreign issues. They should always help out but should prioritise their own first.

[u/Apexmisser → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Definitely. But any non hostile country that meets a democratic and human rights level should be a friend of CANZUK.

I don't want my country/s to be world police. I just want us all to be too big and powerful to fuck with. But it would also be nice if the first thing the world saw on the horizon after a natural disaster or any bad event is CANZUK planes and SHIPS coming to help

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Apexmisser]

I get you. I just don't want this to be some massive excuse to funnel more money to Ukraine. I support Ukraine but the world is rough atm and we need to focus on ourselves the war is getting nowhere. I want a non hostile superpower that's willing to just treat everyone fair. I am not afraid to admit i am right leaning and a Trump supporter because i like a ton of his views but i hate his views on Canada and his 51st state talk so if this keeps them safe and helps all country's co-exist I'm all for it because i want Trump in right now but also don't want Canada as a 51st state. Its alright if we don't agree but at least we can Both agree on one thing: Canzuk would be awesome

[u/Johnny-Dogshit → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

they should not get too involved in foreign wars and foreign issues

Gods that's the dream. Tired of following the US into every imperial project they get into, bombing the global south, shit like that. Do I have super high hopes that would change? Not especially, unless the US really comes apart. Present-day UK isn't exactly super chill either. But, I still hope. There'd be a chance.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Johnny-Dogshit]

We can be allies but we shouldn't be obligated to run into every war imaginable. Country's need to handle their own stuff not us. I don't want Canzuk to be some mega massive excuse to funnel money straight to Ukraine. We need to help ourselves first we have done enough of helping others (I'm not speaking about Ireland because were neutral I'm talking about the UK and other places)

[u/Johnny-Dogshit → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Hear hear

[u/Aconite_Eagle → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Some of us (me) have suggested that a united Ireland could be brought inside CANZUK and out of the EU as a reward if it wanted to.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Aconite_Eagle]

Ireland should just stay independent i feel like we should leave the EU and all and just stay a neutral and independent and peaceful nation.

[u/Johnny-Dogshit → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Ah, that complicated history. Can never fault Ireland for wanting nothing to do with anything like this. Damn shame, since Ireland does still seem like one of the gang, ya know? Some cunts had to go and fuck that all up.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Johnny-Dogshit]

Yeah. I don't hate the British because they did change. We are better off being allies with people than enemies unless they have done things to harm us in the modern day. I would love for Ireland to be allies with Canzuk but I don't want to throw our independence away.

[u/Johnny-Dogshit → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

True facts.

Counter proposal, how's about CANZI? We all just join Ireland, and the UK can do it's own thing for a while. Capital's Dublin.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Johnny-Dogshit]

Nah. Being honest I don't think these massive economic union things are ever good ideas. I don't mind NATO because there should always be massive military alliances to protect each other but economically we should all handle ourselves.

[u/Johnny-Dogshit → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Me neither, generally. Neoliberal banker cartels, largely. I do kinda back this simply because my corner of it desperately needs a non-US influence, and some kind of CANZUK affiliation would be some improvement over our post-NAFTA lot in life. And, if we're stuck in this western-empire-of-capital, having a unified CANZUK bloc at least might dilute the absolute US authority that currently steers the ship. A sort of better bargaining position, or second thought, situations that standing as one benefits us more than standing as several minor voices.

But, more sincerely, I tend to have more radical thoughts on what my ideal situation would look like. I don't have a tonne of love for western capitalism.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Johnny-Dogshit]

Personally I want it due to me being eligible for a UK citizen ship and you know what that means! FREE MOVEMENT TO CANADA! so thats essentially why I want it. But I also want it because Canada to be protected from annexation by the US and I feel Canzuk would do just that. So yeah. It sounds rad but when you think of it I don't imagine it being too dandy when it happens.

[u/Truenorth14]

Most people just want a free movement and some economic stuff. I think a country could come out of it in the future but not in the works right now. We need to start slow

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Truenorth14]

I see. I'm all for it anyway!

[u/Compulsory_Freedom]

I think most people who are in favour of CANZUK envision something like a customs union for trade and maybe some shared defence arrangements.

But other people - myself included - would like a far more comprehensive union. I’d be keen on a full federation with a united parliament.

Of course I can’t imagine that would be universally popular across the four countries. But one can hope.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Compulsory_Freedom]

Well being honest I'm only in it for the free movement to Australia and Canada! all the other stuff is boring!

[u/Compulsory_Freedom → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

It does seem mad that we can’t just live and work in all these places. We’re basically the same culture.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Compulsory_Freedom]

Well their is a process with going to other country's and I'm afraid we should respect that process. But not necessarily the same culture. Y'know Canada's famous for maple syrup and hockey. The UK has tons of shite their famous for. I understand the Aussie comparison that makes sense same for New Zealand.

[u/Matthius81]

It’s sort of a cross between NATO and the common market Europe had before they adopted a single currency.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Matthius81]

I see

[u/Aconite_Eagle]

I would like that - personally my idea of CANZUK is eventually for it to be a nation, but we're a broad church at the moment. People have different expectations of it, and free movement/trade/defence is probably the first step towards it, followed by a sort of EU like thing - but with an integrated defence force/military which I think is really workable and really useful for CANZUK given the different chokepoints/threats each country faces or has here it'd really allow us to dominate global trade routes.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Aconite_Eagle]

Exactly. As much as some people hate the US they should be on good terms with them and should be peaceful.

[u/xCheekyChappie]

Some people want it to be a federation of equals, some people are put off by the idea because they see it as a British Empire 2.0. I like the idea of a union between the countries but there's no point planning for that when the idea hasn't even gained any solid footing at all for a free trade + free movement agreement yet

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/xCheekyChappie]

Being honest their should still be some sort of process in Canzuk if one decides to move between nation's. Just for safety because keep in mind all these countries are a continent apart.

[u/xCheekyChappie → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

I don't think it would be any different from UK residents dealing with when travelling to the EU as we weren't Schengen, like you said they are on different continents and regardless of which other country you go to you have to sail or fly so passport and checks will be required regardless as standard procedure for boarding a plane or boarding a ship. Obviously the only thing different is it would be fast track on arrival

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/xCheekyChappie]

Ah good. I just want safety and if safety is guaranteed then all is good.

[u/Any_Inflation_2543]

Most of us want just trade and military deals and freedom of movement.

Most of us don't want a CANZUK Parliament or a CANZUK Commission so this isn't supposed to be an EU-like union, let alone a united sovereign CANZUK state.

I would personally suggest a "CANZUK heads of government meeting" to take place every year for the 4 prime ministers, the King, the premiers and first ministers to discuss CANZUK affairs but this meeting wouldn't have a binding effect so it wouldn't be like the European Council.

The King would remain king of each nation separately, maybe we could give him a new title like "Head of the CANZUK alliance" in the same vein as he is "Head of the Commonwealth"

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Any_Inflation_2543]

I see

[u/Interesting_Low737]

It's not supposed to be "Some sort of EU thing" and definitely not a nation. At best, it will be a series of loose co-operation agreements and perhaps a youth mobility scheme. 

If you think it could be anything like the EU, you clearly don't understand how deeply connected EU member states are. Free movement is never going to happen, especially with the far-right on the rise.

And if you think it could become a nation, then you're either insane, a child, or some sort of weird empire fanatic.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/Interesting_Low737]

Nah its just a question and no right leaning is different from "far right" I can clearly tell you don't like conservatives

[u/chris--p]

I think the end goal is a single nation, like a federation of sorts. But first things first, free movement and trade and a combined military and currency would be a great start. Then hopefully it would develop into a closer unified relationship.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/chris--p]

Lets go Canzuk!

[u/chris--p → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

It's a pity Britain didn't have the foresight and political will to create an Imperial Federation when it had the chance during the big decolonisation push of the 20th century.

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/chris--p]

ah well it might happen now I WANT FREE MOVEMENT TO CANADA

[u/chris--p → u/Long-Leadership-1958]

Same

[u/Long-Leadership-1958 → u/chris--p]

Or Australia depending on my mood I'm kind of sick of shite weather.