Purpose of the Commonwealth of Nations

As the British Empire began the process of decolonization and the formation of independent governments from former British colonies, a need for a federation of former Empire countries arose. Lord Rosebery, a British statesman, coined the phrase “Commonwealth of Nations” to describe the changing British Empire in 1884.

The United Kingdom, Canada, the Irish Free State, Newfoundland, and the Union of South Africa were the first five members of the British Commonwealth of Nations, which was established in 1931 under the Statute of Westminster. (Due to apartheid, Ireland left the Commonwealth permanently in 1949, Newfoundland joined Canada in 1949, and South Africa departed in 1961 but rejoined in 1994 as the Republic of South Africa.)

Head of Commonwealth

Queen Elizabeth II is the Commonwealth’s head, according to the London Declaration’s formula, a title that is legally part of Elizabeth’s legal titles in each of the Commonwealth realms, the 15 countries that recognise her as their queen. When a monarch dies, the heir to the throne does not automatically become the Commonwealth’s new leader. However, Commonwealth leaders agreed in April 2018 that Prince Charles should replace his mother as head. The position is symbolic, as it represents the free association of autonomous members, the majority of which are republics, and five of which have monarchs from various royal houses (Brunei, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malaysia, and Tonga).

Policies and Purpose:

The Secretary-General is chosen by the membership’s Heads of Government and can serve two four-year terms. In 1965, the role of Secretary-General was created. The Commonwealth Secretariat is based in London and employs 320 people from Commonwealth member countries. The Commonwealth is represented by its own flag. The Commonwealth’s voluntary mission is to promote international cooperation and economic, social, and human rights in member countries. The decisions of the Commonwealth councils are not legally binding.The Commonwealth of Nations sponsors the Commonwealth Games, a sporting tournament for member countries held every four years.On the second Monday in March, Commonwealth Day is observed. Each year’s topic is different, although each country can celebrate the day any way they like.The 54 member states have a combined population of almost two billion people, accounting for over 30% of the world’s population (India accounts for the majority of the Commonwealth’s population).

Members:

The Commonwealth is made up of 54 countries from every inhabited continent. The members’ combined population is 2.4 billion people, or over a third of the world’s population, with 1.4 billion people living in India and 94% in Asia or Africa. Pakistan (227 million), Nigeria (213 million), Bangladesh (167 million), and the United Kingdom are the next-largest Commonwealth countries by population after India (68 million). Tuvalu, with a population of roughly 12,000 people, is the smallest member.

The Commonwealth nations’ land area is around 31,500,000 km2 (12,200,000 sq mi), or about 21% of the total world land area. Canada has a land area of 9,984,670 km2 (3,855,100 sq mi), while Australia has a land area of 7,617,930 km2 (2,941,300 sq mi).

The designation “Member in Arrears” is used to identify members who have fallen behind on their subscription dues. The status was initially known as “special membership,” but it was renamed on the proposal of the Committee on Commonwealth Membership. There are no members that are currently in arrears. In June 2011, Nauru, the most recent Member in Arrears, was restored to full membership. Since joining the Commonwealth, Nauru has alternated between special and full membership, depending on its financial status.

The 54 members of the commonwealth community from different regions are as follows:

Africa

Botswana, Cameroon, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Kingdom of Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Rwanda, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Uganda, United Republic of Tanzania, Zambia

Asia

Bangladesh, Brunei Darussalam, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka

Caribbean and Americas:

Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Canada, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and The Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago

Europe:

Cyprus, Malta, United Kingdom

Pacific:

Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu

Conclusion:

The Commonwealth of Nations, or simply the Commonwealth, is a political organisation made up of 54 member states, almost all of which were once British colonies. The Commonwealth Secretariat, which focuses on intergovernmental issues, and the Commonwealth Foundation, which focuses on non-governmental interactions among member states, are the organization’s two main institutions.It has a population of 2.5 billion people and includes both developed and emerging economies. Small states account for 32 of our members, including many island nations.Its member states have agreed on common objectives such as development, democracy, and peace. The Commonwealth Charter enshrines our values and beliefs.The Commonwealth is descended from the British Empire. Today, however, any country can join the Commonwealth. Rwanda was the latest country to join the Commonwealth in 2009.