Commonwealth

The History of the

Commonwealth
o
o

Britain with colonies all over the world

Beginning in 1867 Britain allows colonies selfgovernment
Colonies rise to dominion status.
o
o

Internal self-government
Independence in foreign affairs

Term Commonwealth referring to British

Empire first used in 1884
Declarations & commitments form modern
Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth
of Nations

Balfour Declaration-1926: Dominions are autonomous, equal

communities within British empire united by allegiance to British
Crown.

Statute of Westminster-1931: Legal backing to dominion

arrangements is provided.

London Declaration-1949: British Monarch becomes symbol for

free association including an Commonwealth countries.

Singapore Declaration of Commonwealth Principles-1971:

Defined modern Commonwealth.

Declarations Modernize the

Commonwealth

Harare Declaration-1991: Reaffirmed Commonwealth

principles and:
Stood against terrorism
Pursued equality & participation by women
Promoted sustainable development
Promoted democracy

Millbrook Declaration-1995: Firm action against members

who do not uphold Harare principles
Suspension of participation at Commonwealth meetings
Complete suspension from the Commonwealth
Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group Rapid Action
Force is created

Declarations Modernize the

Commonwealth (cont.)

Limassol Declaration-1993, Edinburgh Declaration1997, & Fancourt Declaration-1999: Economic

matters, globalization and people-centered
development.

Coolum Declaration-2002: Gave new vision and

structure for the Commonwealth in 21st Century.

Aso Rock Declaration-2003: Stressed pro-poor

stance.

Whos in the Commonwealth

now?

53 countries!
1.7 billion people!
2/3 without British Monarch as head of state

Commonwealth Members
Dates of Membership
Nation Year Nation

Year

Nation

Year

Antigua and Barbuda

Bangladesh 1972
Botswana
1966
Canada 1931
Fiji Islands 1997
Grenada
1974
Jamaica
1962
Lesotho 1966
The Maldives
Mozambique 1995

1981
Barbados
Brunei
Cyprus
The Gambia
Guyana
Kenya
Malawi
1982
Namibia

Australia
1966
1984
1961
1965
1966
1963
1964
Malta
1990

1931
Belize
Cameroon
Dominica
Ghana
India
Kiribati
Malaysia
1964
Nauru

New Zealand1931
Papua New Guinea
St. Vincent & Grenadines
Sierra Leone 1961
South Africa 1931
Tanzania
1961
Tuvalu 1978
Vanuatu1980

Nigeria
1960
Pakistan 1947
1975
St. Christopher and Nevis 1983
1979
Samoa
1970
Seychelles
Singapore 1965
Solomon Islands
Sri Lanka
1948
Swaziland 1968
Tonga
1970
Trinidad and Tobago
United Kingdom
-Uganda
Zambia
1964

The Bahamas
1981
1995
1978
1957
1947
1979
1957
Mauritius
1968
1968
St. Lucia
1976
1978
1962
1962

1973

1979

What are the Commonwealths

Core Values?
Support:
Democracy
Rule of law
Good governance
Freedom of expression
Human rights
Respect:
Diversity
Human dignity
Pluralism
Tolerance
Eliminate:
discrimination
poverty

Promote:
People-centered development
Sustainable development
Overcome:
Disparities in living standards
Challenges of small states &
less developed countries
Strive for:
International peace & security
Rule of international law
End of people smuggling
End to terrorism.

Characteristics of
Commonwealth Members
Countries:

Comply with the

Commonwealth core values
Have a constitutional link with
a Commonwealth member
state
Accept Commonwealth
procedures and conventions
Independent sovereign states

Organizations

Voluntary membership
Equal membership by all
countries
Countries responsible for
their own policies
A culture of consultation &
co-operation.
Direct work to common
interests of Commonwealth
Promote understanding &
world peace.

Regions of the Commonwealth

Parliamentary Association
Nine Regions of CPA
Africa
Asia
Australia
British Islands and Mediterranean
Canada
Caribbean, Americas and Atlantic
India
Pacific
South East Asia

Languages of Commonwealth
Countries

English Official

9%

15%

English and Other

Language Official
English Official, Other
Language Common

26%

50%

Other Language
Official

Commonwealth Secretariat
Details

Responsibilities

Established in 1965

Implement decisions

Chief executive is secretary-general

Election Observer Groups

Works with executives of members

Development assistance

Is Largest entity in Commonwealth

Foster member relationships

Cooperates with:
Civil society
NGOs
Private sector

Encourage democracy & cooperation

Has 250 staff

Run events & training activities

Politics

Diplomacy

Economics

Education

Health

Gender

Youth, etc.

What are the Commonwealth

Small States?
32 Countries
Population < 1.5 million
Nation

Surface
Area

Population
(thousands)

Surface
Area

Nation

Population
(thousands)

Antigua & Barbuda

440

68

Malta

320

395

Bahamas

13,880

310

Mauritius

2,040

1,200

Barbados

430

268

Namibia

824,290

1,792

Belize

22,960

578

Nauru

20

10

Botswana

581,730

1,695

Papua New Guinea

462,840

5,254

Brunei Darussalam

5,770

344

Samoa

2,840

174

Cyprus

9,250

761

Seychelles

450

82

Dominica

750

72

Solomon Islands

28,900

431

Fiji Islands

18,270

817

St Kitts & Nevis

360

45

Gambia

11,300

1,341

620

158

Grenada

340

103

St Lucia
St Vincent & the
Grenadines

390

109

Guyana

214,970

766

Swaziland

17,360

1,068

J amaica

10,990

2,595

Tonga

750

101

Kiribati

730

93

Trinidad & Tobago

5,130

1,310

Lesotho
Maldives

30,350
300

2,062
280

Tuvalu
Vanuatu

30
12,190

10
201

Organizations in the
Commonwealth

Commonwealth Parliamentary Association:

Consultation between and among Commonwealth
parliaments
Includes sub-national legislatures
Divided into regions
Organizes annual conference

Commonwealth Women Parliamentarians (CWP):

Provides professional development opportunities for
women MPs

Commonwealth Local Government Forum (CLGF):

plays a parallel role to that of the CPA for local
governments.

Organizations in the
Commonwealth (cont.)

Commonwealth Foundation:

Strengthen civil society, democracy etc.

Increase exchanges between organizations
Improves standards of knowledge

Commonwealth Games: Multinational, multi-sport

event, every four years

Commonwealth Business Council: Devoted to

business interests in the Commonwealth

Organizations in the
Commonwealth (cont.)
Commonwealth of Learning: A non-degree-granting
University for development and educational access for
commonwealth countries.
Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative: Encourages human
rights but does not possess any executive powers
Institute of Commonwealth Studies/Commonwealth Policy
Studies Unit: Think tank for the contemporary
Commonwealth.
The Royal Commonwealth Society: Provides information
and education about the Commonwealth to all interested
persons.

CHOGM Meetings

Established in 1971, replacing

Commonwealth Prime Ministers Meetings

Held every two years

Reiterate the core values and principles of

the association

Review performance and global relevance

The Modern Commonwealth

Machine: What keeps it together?

A common heritage of

English language
Law
Parliamentary democracy

but
Language and legal systems have changed
Many have dropped the bicameral parliamentary
system
yet, in spite of its variety, it is
A potent force for harmonizing differences

CHOGM: Governing the

Commonwealth

Policy-making

Performance evaluation

Publishes decisions

Outlines work

Appoints secretary-general

Thanks

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