The Anglosphere and ‘Anglo-scepticism’ in the post-Brexit UK-Australia relationship

The UK-Australia relationship was invested with renewed importance after Brexit, particularly amongst conservatives in both countries. Ideas about cultural and strategic commonality amongst Anglophone countries were an important element of the elite project underpinning Brexit. A comparative analysis of this Anglosphere perspective is important as it shapes the worldviews of political and policy elites in both countries, thus underpinning recent developments such as AUKUS and the UK-Australia FTA. Drawing on extensive interview data, this article contends that although seldom referred to explicitly, the Anglosphere idea continues to frame understandings of the relationship between Australia and the UK amongst conservative elites in both countries. However, the Anglosphere idea is contested, and our comparison also identifies a persistent strand of what we call ‘Anglo-scepticism’. This Anglo-scepticism is premised on a critical appraisal of the relevance of the Anglosphere idea as a useful perspective through which to understand the UK-Australia relationship.