As Britain celebrates Queen Elizabeth’s 70 years on the throne, many in Britain and abroad question the future of the Commonwealth, a group of 54 nation-states made up largely of former British colonies that the Queen has championed. during his tenure. What purpose does this international club of nations serve and what may the future hold?
With roots in the British Empire, the Commonwealth (or Mancomunidad, in Spanish) in its modern form emerged in 1949 with the London Declaration that set a precedent that member states are “free and equal.” Membership was not dependent on recognition of the British monarch as head of state. King George VI was the political association’s first leader and Elizabeth II took office in 1952 after her accession to the throne.
On the basis of free and voluntary cooperation, the 54 members represent about a quarter of the world’s population and the vast majority are former British colonies. These member states share the values of democracy and human rights and champion youth and environmental issues, among other issues. They take part in a biennial meeting of Heads of Government, presided over by the Queen, and the Commonwealth Games, an international sporting event that takes place every four years.
“The Commonwealth was created as an alternative way of maintaining ties of voluntary friendship and mutual interest between nations linked through the English language and, for the most part, the relationship with Britain as former colonies,” says Cindy McCreery, historian and professor of the University of Sydney and a specialist in the history of the British royal family.
“One of its key achievements is maintaining so many diverse states: Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, India, the Caribbean countries, and former colonies in Africa,” McCreery added. “The Commonwealth is also notable in that some states have gone and returned, such as South Africa, which left the organization under apartheid and returned voluntarily.”
Throughout her tenure, Queen Elizabeth has played a crucial role in upholding the Commonwealth and maintaining its relevance.
“The Commonwealth has always been a priority for the Queen, which is a key reason why it still survives,” said Craig Prescott, professor of UK constitutional law at Bangor University.
“He has visited Commonwealth countries throughout his reign until relatively recently; his last trip abroad was to Malta in 2015 for the Heads of Government meeting. He has always reminded people of the importance of the Commonwealth, in its Christmas speech or in his Commonwealth Day message,” he adds.
“Elizabeth has been hugely influential. She has taken a great interest in leadership at Commonwealth Heads of Government meetings, trying to patch up the differences between the leaders and make people feel that it is important for their nation to stay in the Commonwealth. McCreery adds.
A hangover from the colonial past or a useful platform for smaller states?
Although some of the Commonwealth’s wealthiest nations, such as Australia, New Zealand and Canada, still retain the Queen as their head of state, Caribbean members seem keen to break with the royal hierarchy. Officials from at least six countries in that region have indicated they plan to remove the monarch as their sovereign after Barbados, which became the region’s newest republic at the end of 2021.
Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, visited the Caribbean in March in what was seen as an attempt to persuade countries not to sever ties with the monarchy. His visit was met with protests in Belize and Jamaica, where people called for a formal royal apology for the enslavement of Africans and demanded reparations.
However, even as smaller states reject the monarchy as a symbol of a colonial past to which they no longer wish to be tied, remaining in the Commonwealth could be seen as a way of continuing to reap certain benefits under the British crown.
“When Barbados became a republic, it no longer had the Queen as its head of state, but this did not change its relationship with the Commonwealth. We will not see countries leaving the Commonwealth en masse when they become republics,” says McCreery.
“On their own, the small Caribbean states would have very little influence in international affairs, so the Commonwealth is the main avenue for them to gain critical mass. The organization offers a way for smaller states to come together and potentially have more influence on issues like climate change. It gives them a global platform to talk about issues they care about, find peers who share similar experiences, and potentially get richer members like Australia to help out in a spirit of friendship.”
“It is significant that 54 nations signed up. I think that the nations feel that there is something for them and that it is not just a colonial hangover ”, she sentences.
What future awaits the Commonwealth?
As the monarch celebrates her platinum jubilee, many are wondering what the future of the Commonwealth will look like when its strongest leader is succeeded by Prince Charles, who is currently the heir to the British throne. The alliance has been criticized for being ineffective, with a poor record of making major policy changes, and many have suggested that it may have run its course historically.
“The Commonwealth’s biggest overt goal is to tackle climate change, as many countries in the organization are likely to suffer greatly from its effects. The organization could really have a role to play, for example in supporting countries to move away from carbon to net zero emissions,” explains Prescott.
“Prince Charles has always shown a keen interest in climate change, so this may make him attractive to members of the Commonwealth. But this may require rethinking the shape of the Commonwealth, its resources and capabilities. There has really been no political will to expand it. It may be that it has been supplanted by other international organizations and alliances, such as the G20,” he adds.
“I’m betting Carlos will be much more interventionist on issues like the environment and youth issues,” McCreery predicts. “Carlos may actually have the ability to do more things than Isabel as he has a lot of experience working with organizations that are campaigning in these areas.”
For the historian, the Commonwealth has a future and a potential that is not necessarily tied to the Queen. He believes that a future model of the Commonwealth may be taking shape. In recent days, speculation has surfaced that Australia may be the next Commonwealth nation to become a republic after new Prime Minister Anthony Albanese appointed a deputy minister for the Republic.
“I think more members of the Commonwealth will become republics, but that has more to do with their constitutional relationship with Britain than with membership in the organization. I’m sure many states would see it as a good organization to be a part of.” , even if it’s just as a backup. The Commonwealth has potential, although I’m not sure it will reach it, “he summarizes.
For British Conservatives, greater engagement with the Commonwealth could help Britain achieve Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s ‘global Britain’ strategy of reconnecting with “old friends and new allies” in a post world. to Brexit. However, the success of this aspect of the country’s foreign policy remains to be seen.
Article adapted from its original in English
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