Commonwealth is a voluntary alliance currently formed by 56 countries, whose main objective is to promote social development, peace and prosperity among nations that are part of the group.
The emergence of this organization, which is considered one of the oldest in the world, is linked to the autonomy process of the territories colonized by the United Kingdom.
As they gained greater freedom, these nations chose to maintain democratic ties with the British country, based on this union on common values, such as encouraging free trade and commitment to combating poverty and social inequality.
Today, even though Commonwealth countries no longer adopt the absolutist monarchy, where the king assumes all power, they still recognize him as a symbolic figure. Thus, is the current head of Commonwealth.
What are Commonwealth countries?
Today, Commonwealth houses 2.7 billion people on five continents, and includes both rich and developing countries. In addition, 33 of the 56 countries are considered small states and nations formed by islands, such as the Pacific Solomon Islands.
See the list:
- Africa: Kenya, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Uganda, Togo, Zambia, South Africa Sierra Leone, Botesuana, Cameroon, Gabão, Gambia, Essuatini, Lesoto, Malawi, Mauricio, Nambia, Seychelles and Tanzania.
- Pacific and island countries of Oceania: Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Tuvalu.
- Caribbean and Americas: Canada, Barbados, Jamaica, Bahamas, Guyana, Antigua and bearded, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Saint Lucia, St. Christopher Island, St. Vincent and Granadinas, Trinidad and Tobago
- Asia: Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Maldives, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Brunei.
Origens da Commonwealth
Commonwealth roots date the British Empire, when the United Kingdom dominated several territories around the world.
Over time, especially in the late nineteenth century, some of these territories gained more freedom to make decisions and take care of internal matters. Although still linked to the United Kingdom, these “pre-independent” territories were called domains.
At that time, the domains were formed by Australia, Canada, India, Irish free state (name of Ireland while some regions were still colonies) Nova Terra (one of the provinces of what today is Canada), New Zealand and South Africa.
The leaders of these territories began to participate in conferences with authorities of the British Empire from 1887.
Already in 1926, 39 years later, the British Empire and the domains agreed that they were all equal members of a community, which began to facilitate the process of independence of the colonies. This equality was formalized in 1931, with the signing of the Westminster Statute, which attributed legislative autonomy to the domains.
From then on, the alliance was known as the British community of nations, or simply Commonwealth.
A Commonwealth “moderna”
As early as 1949, the London Declaration, which established the struggle for human rights and democracy in Europe, brought important points and changes to Commonwealth.
India, which was one of the domains, became independent of the United Kingdom two years earlier, in 1947. However, the country wanted to become a republic, that is, to stop having a monarch as head of state. But at the same time, he wanted to continue to be part of Commonwealth with other countries.
At a meeting of London authorities, it was decided that the document would include republics and other countries that had not been colonized by the British Empire could join the Commonwealth.
Today, this rule is still in force, as long as the country has some kind of historical constitutional association with some integral nation of the alliance.
Rwanda, for example, a country on the African continent, has never been a British colony, but has been part of Commonwealth since 2009.
How does the alliance work?
The Commonwealth structure is made up of a boss and three intergovernmental organizations: the Commonwealth secretariat, the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth of Learning.
King George VI was the first head of the covenant, and Queen Elizabeth II, his daughter, took the position when he died in 1952. But the British king or queen are not automatically heads of Commonwealth. The countries that are part of the Association choose those who become boss. Currently, it is King Charles III.
The chief’s figure is only symbolic for countries that are part of the alliance, as it has no minimum or maximum period of stay.
He participates and is ahead, for example, of Commonwealth, such as Chogm (Commonwealth heads of government heads), which takes place every two years and discusses the world’s most urgent issues such as hunger and climate change.
The Commonwealth secretariat is responsible for supporting the alliance and coordinating activities between the 56 countries. The secretary general coordinates the entire area, as well as representing Commonwealth publicly and assuming the role of executive director of the secretariat. Today, the position is occupied by the African Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey.
Commonwealth Foundation acts directly in the community, promoting artistic, cultural and climate -related social projects in underdeveloped nations. The Commonwealth Foundation and Secretariat’s headquarters are located in London.
Finally, Commonwealth of Learning is dedicated exclusively to promoting the development of education and the sharing of knowledge, resources and learning technologies. The headquarters is in the city of Burnaby, Canada.
