I think that the British Empire's breakup was inevitable and a solid emperial federation impossible, and not just because of the democratic deficit in trying to keep Britain as top dog despite being a distinct minority. (And, let's face it, every Imperial Federation proposal to go through the halls of power in Britain would, by default, keep Britain as top dog.)
For one thing, spheres of influence. After a point regardless, the US is going to so far outweigh Britain in North America that Canada will, by necessity, look to the US for trade and peace security rather than Britain. Good relations with the US would be a requirement, not an option, which would mean that on any serious issue where Britain is opposed to the US, Canada would have to default. Repeat this with other areas where Britain, while having great global reach, can't dominate in the regions that matter, and the Dominions will have to pursue their own security policies.
For another thing, constant movement towards autonomy. That's a near uniform constant in every society, and the white dominions were no different. Every country/region likes to be able to make their own policies that fit their own best interests, everyone jealously guards their own perogatives, and are always relunctant to commit abroad for someone else without a clear reason and motive. All of these will lead the Dominions to resist any sort of formal integration/subordination, especially if population becomes involved and then they get yoked to India or Africa's movements and worries.
Then there is the minor detail of arguable public support in most the colonies or even Britain itself. Britain prided itself on using fewer men to govern larger areas. Despite all these claims for support of a Federation, I have never seen any sort of poll about how the British felt about it (and, let's face it, if the British electorate feels that it will hurt them to compete with, say, India, then the whole thing is scuttled), about how the white Dominions felt about it (Canada and Australia want in? Really? Proof?), and have never even heard it alleged that the poor peasant masses of India or Africa were just dying to be even more tightly bound to the British Empire.
And what about economics, or freedom of movement? Forget about India, even British Africa alone would throw a wrench in the British economy, and then throw in a fire bomb as well. And that's just from free movement: if Britain can't simply deny industrialization to areas that might compete with it...
For one thing, spheres of influence. After a point regardless, the US is going to so far outweigh Britain in North America that Canada will, by necessity, look to the US for trade and peace security rather than Britain. Good relations with the US would be a requirement, not an option, which would mean that on any serious issue where Britain is opposed to the US, Canada would have to default. Repeat this with other areas where Britain, while having great global reach, can't dominate in the regions that matter, and the Dominions will have to pursue their own security policies.
For another thing, constant movement towards autonomy. That's a near uniform constant in every society, and the white dominions were no different. Every country/region likes to be able to make their own policies that fit their own best interests, everyone jealously guards their own perogatives, and are always relunctant to commit abroad for someone else without a clear reason and motive. All of these will lead the Dominions to resist any sort of formal integration/subordination, especially if population becomes involved and then they get yoked to India or Africa's movements and worries.
Then there is the minor detail of arguable public support in most the colonies or even Britain itself. Britain prided itself on using fewer men to govern larger areas. Despite all these claims for support of a Federation, I have never seen any sort of poll about how the British felt about it (and, let's face it, if the British electorate feels that it will hurt them to compete with, say, India, then the whole thing is scuttled), about how the white Dominions felt about it (Canada and Australia want in? Really? Proof?), and have never even heard it alleged that the poor peasant masses of India or Africa were just dying to be even more tightly bound to the British Empire.
And what about economics, or freedom of movement? Forget about India, even British Africa alone would throw a wrench in the British economy, and then throw in a fire bomb as well. And that's just from free movement: if Britain can't simply deny industrialization to areas that might compete with it...
