Development of the Commonwealth

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Introduction

Commonwealth of Nations, worldwide association of nations and their dependencies, whose members share a common commitment to promoting human rights, democracy, and economic development. All members accept the British monarch as the symbolic head of the Commonwealth. All but one, Mozambique, were once associated in some constitutional way with either the former British Empire or with another member country. The association was formerly known as the British Commonwealth of Nations, but today is referred to simply as the Commonwealth.

About 1.7 billion people live in the 54 independent nations and the more than 20 dependencies that make up the Commonwealth. Commonwealth members share many customs and traditions as a result of their association with Britain. Many have parliamentary systems of government on the British model, and their judicial and educational institutions are often similar to those in Britain. English is an official language of many members of the Commonwealth. Since 1977 the second Monday in March has been celebrated as Commonwealth Day; on that day the British monarch, as the head of the Commonwealth, presents an annual message to all member countries.

Development of the Commonwealth

Almost all members of the Commonwealth were once ruled by Britain as part of the British Empire. Some of them, such as Australia and Canada, were largely settled by British people. Others, such as India and Nigeria, were areas where British administrators governed a large non-British population.

British Empire in the Early 20th Century

The British Empire, established over the course of three centuries, began in the late 16th century with chartered commercial ventures in sugar and tobacco plantations, slave trading, and missionary activities in North America and the Caribbean Islands. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the British Empire reached the height of its power, ruling over large parts of Africa, Asia, and North America. Most of these former colonies are now part of today's Commonwealth of Nations.

During the first half of the 19th century the British government granted settlers of European origin in the colonies of Canada and Australia some self-government. At first, self-government was limited to local affairs, but it was gradually extended. In the 19th and early 20th centuries a number of areas under British control gained almost full independence and became known as dominions, rather than colonies. These included the Irish Free State, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. In 1926 dominions became defined as free and equal countries within the British Empire. The Statute of Westminster, enacted by the British Parliament in 1931, officially proclaimed the Commonwealth a free association of self-governing dominions united by a common allegiance to the Crown. As such, Commonwealth members were entitled to join international organizations as independent nations.

In 1949 Commonwealth prime ministers issued the London Declaration. The declaration changed membership in the Commonwealth from one based on common allegiance to the British Crown to one in which members agreed to recognize the British monarch as a symbol of their association, and thus head of the Commonwealth. Commonwealth nations were no longer required to recognize the Crown as their head of state. India became the first republican member with its own president as head of state. Today the British monarch is considered the head of state in only 16 Commonwealth countries, which are now formally called realms. Realms include Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. The other members recognize the Crown only as head of the Commonwealth.

During the decades following the London Declaration, many of Britain’s colonies and dependencies in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific gained their independence and joined the Commonwealth, although some Commonwealth members have also withdrawn. Ireland left the Commonwealth in 1949. South Africa withdrew in 1961 after many Commonwealth members condemned its policies of apartheid (racial separation) and white supremacy. South Africa rejoined the Commonwealth in 1994 after apartheid ended. Fiji lost its membership in 1987 when a military coup took over its government, but its membership was reinstated in 1997 after the country adopted a new constitution more in line with Commonwealth principles.

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