Kaide Seager

CANZUK on the international stage

The CANZUK nations dominate the international rankings for democracy, corruption and
education.

The CANZUK nations are well-known for their great vibrant economies and high living
standards. However, the CANZUK nations are also highly regarded in other ways too. Our
four great countries lead the way when it comes to education, democracy and low levels of
corruption. The CANZUK movement can become a real force for global good and peace,
creating a platform for other countries to emulate.

According to the Economist Democracy Index of 2018, only 20 countries in the world are
considered “full democracies”. The four CANZUK nations are all included and dominate the
top tier of this table. New Zealand, Canada, and Australia are within the top 10 most
democratic nations on earth, and the UK is the 14th. Even the great democratic nations such
as the United States, France, Italy, and the EU principal capital Belgium, are not considered
to be fully functioning democracies but fall into a separate category named “flawed
democracies”.

Why do the CANZUK countries dominate the Democracy Index?

The common law (often called English law) is the basis of the legal framework for the
CANZUK countries. Along with the parliamentary system, the CANZUK countries share
four similar principles: representation, fair justice, individual freedoms and property rights.
The legacy of the former British Empire and Commonwealth has created a unique system of
governance that allows for many English speaking peoples to enjoy such freedoms. The
former British territories of Ireland and Malta, follow the common law system too and are
ranked with within the world 20 most democratic nations.
Kaide Seager

Corruption

According to the Corruption Perception index, by Transparency International, the CANZUK

countries are considered to be the most corruption-free nations on earth. According to the
data, New Zealand is believed to be the second most corruption-free nation, with Denmark
just edging the first spot. All four CANZUK nations are amongst the 15th least corrupt
nations in the world. The low level of corruption allows the CANZUK nations to offer
fantastic opportunities for reasonable political discourse and fair business practices. With
relatively low levels of corruption, many people consider the CANZUK nations to be the
bastions of freedom; that embraces innovation, hard work and creativity.

The 2018 CPI draws on 13 surveys and expert assessments to measure public sector
corruption in 180 countries and territories, giving each a score from zero (highly corrupt) to
100 (very clean).

Education

According to the OCED, the citizens of the CANZUK countries are amongst the most
educated people in the world, containing the most excellent education facilities and long-
standing institutions that have enabled the CANZUK countries to have a large number of
educated citizens. Canadians are considered to be the most knowledgeable people in the
world, followed by the UK in 6th and Australia in 8th. The OECD defined a country's adult
education level as the percentage of people between the ages of 25 and 64 who have
completed some kind of tertiary education in the form of a two-year degree, four-year degree
or vocational program.
Kaide Seager

According to a study by the QS Best Student Cities index, the CANZUK countries contain
the best urban destinations for international students; with London ranked 1st, Melbourne 3rd
and Montreal 4th. Out of the top twenty global cities for students, ten are within the four
CANZUK nations. Students are attracted to the CANZUK cities because of their diverse
range of universities, education quality, and affordability and importantly because of the
English language and job prospects. The English language is considered by many to be the
language of business, commerce and education.

Data was gathered from QS Best Student Cities Index

The CANZUK countries are united by a shared common culture and historical ties. The
Anglosphere has long been a place for strength, peace, innovation, education and democracy.
Brexit has granted us the chance to re-write the historical wrong, which allowed our nations
to drift. The time has come to formalise the alliance of the CANZUK nations and maintain
those close cultural, political, educational and military cooperation that is the envy of the
world. The relations between our countries must develop and strength to further the cause of
all our peoples. We should value the strength and integrity of our shared political system and
remember that to be born in a CANZUK nation is to win the lottery of life.
Kaide Seager

Sources:
Economist, Democracy Index

http://www.eiu.com/Handlers/WhitepaperHandler.ashx?fi=Democracy_Index_2018.pdf&mo
de=wp&campaignid=Democracy2018

Corruption Index

https://www.transparency.org/cpi2018?gclid=Cj0KCQiAnY_jBRDdARIsAIEqpJ1UqhwiCm
CNVGHt-nv-Rj8XR_XwyW0_rb_0Vlqjxf-Q-URt4YcUFY0aAsxzEALw_wcB

QS Best Student Cities Index

https://www.topuniversities.com/city-rankings/2018

OCED

OECD (2019), Adult education level (indicator). doi: 10.1787/36bce3fe-en (Accessed on 13

February 2019) https://data.oecd.org/eduatt/adult-education-level.htm#indicator-chart