The Enduring Crown Commonwealth

The Past, Present, and Future of the UK-Canada-ANZ Alliance and Why It Matters

Michael J. Smith, Stephen Klimczuk-Massion

• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield
• Year: 2023
• Edition: 1
• eBook ISBN:
  9781538170205
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: European Politics
• Index: Politics & International Relations

The controversial Netflix series The Crown covers the tumultuous period from the Queen's accession in 1952 to the present day, and so does this book, which explores the rise, decline and—to some—unexpected rebound of the historic UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand alliance. While a post-Brexit and post-Elizabethan Britain seeks a new role in today's volatile world, its traditional partner countries also recognise the logic of reinvigorating their relationship, based on a multitude of still-strong cultural, economic, political, and military ties, including the monarchy as a uniquely shared global, and not merely British, institution.
But this wasn't always the case. Although in the 1950s commentators spoke of a new "Elizabethan Age" with much postwar hope across the Commonwealth, that optimism quickly faded. By the 1970s, many thought Britain washed up and that Crown and Commonwealth ties and allegiance were becoming obsolete. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the four countries increasingly went their separate ways. So, a groggy time-traveller from that period appearing in London, Toronto, Sydney, or Auckland today would be taken by surprise by the durability of the Crown, even as it has passed to King Charles, and the growing reconvergence of the four "CANZUK" realms in terms of trade, defence, foreign policy coordination, freedom of movement, mutual recognition of professional qualifications, and other new or revived links.
This book evocatively tells the whole story of where we are, what's possible for the future, and not least how we got here. In today's age of global instability and raw power politics, this renewed Anglosphere Crown Commonwealth alliance is more important and relevant than ever.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Dedication
• Epigraph
• Contents
• Foreword
• Acknowledgements
• Preface
• Introduction: The Enduring Crown and Commonwealth Realms: From Postcolonial Nationalism to “Postnational” Globalisation and Beyond
• Part I: The Rise and Fall of the Crown Commonwealth
• Prelude: Royal Salute at the Queen’s Enemies
• 1: A New Elizabethan Age?: The Storied 1950s “Indian Summer” of the Crown Commonwealth
• 2: You Say You Want a Revolution: Diverging Realms: The Upheavals and Realignments of the 1960s and 1970s and Their Impact
• 3: Attempts to “Finish the Job”: Efforts to Suppress or Phase Out and End the Monarchy in an Age of Neglect and Assertive Nationalism
• Part II: The Royal Sun Rises Again: Restoration, Revival and Reconvergence
• 4: Demise of the “Chardonnay Republicans”: Coming to Terms with Wrecked Hopes and Dreams Down Under
• 5: Canada Comes Back to the Crown: Revitalising the Maple Crown—“Loyal She Began, Loyal She Remains”
• 6: Britain Returns to the Commonwealth (or, at Any Rate, the World): Rediscovering “Global Britain” in the Post-Brexit United Kingdom
• Part III: Long to Reign Over Us?
• 7: CANZUK Rising: Strategic Cousins in a Multipolar World: From Postimperial Club to Potent International Alliance
• 8: Embracing the Paradox: Billions Mourn the Queen, Yet the Monarchy Is Considered Anachronistic?
• 9: The Commonwealth under Charles III: A Stirring Start to the Reign of King Charles, but Enormous Challenges Lie Ahead
• Conclusion: The Stone of Destiny: Will the Hereditary Principle Durably Last for Nonresidential Monarchies?
• Notes
• Bibliography
• About the Authors