Origin and structure of Commonwealth of Nations
It is a voluntary association of 54 sovereign countries around the world, which were
initially part of the British Empire. The commonwealth origin is the British Empire comprising the British protectorates, colonies and dominions, which included Australia,
New Zealand, Canada, Newfoundland, Irish Free State and South Africa.
The idea to launch the association is traced back to 1839, with the publication of the
Durham report. The modern commonwealth began in 1947 with the end of the British
rule in India. In 1949, India and Pakistan joined the commonwealth.
The commonwealth secretariat is based in London. It deals with day to day running of the organization and organizes meetings.
There are also the Ministerial meetings once after every three years to deal with different issues.
The commonwealth has specialized agencies dealing with various areas of concern. Membership to commonwealth.
It comprised 54 developed and developing nations.
d) The problem of sovereignty. Many countries disregard the commonwealth resolutions in favour of their sovereignty.
e) It lacks an effective machinery to affect its decisions. It also lacks a standing army to implement and effect its resolutions.
f) Loyalty to other organizations. commonwealth members are also members of other
organizations; the interests of these organizations are not in accord with those of
the commonwealth
g) The colonial legacy. Many problems arising from past colonial policies have rocked
the organization. E.g. the land issue in Zimbabwe.
h) The influence of other organizations like NATO who weaken the commonwealth by wooing members to their regions.
i) Race and colour problem. The conflict between white and black people or other colour has become another setback.
j) Dominance by the big powers. This has caused dismay to the organization. Serious
inner tension still undermines the commonwealth activities.
It is a voluntary association of 54 sovereign countries around the world, which were
initially part of the British Empire. The commonwealth origin is the British Empire comprising the British protectorates, colonies and dominions, which included Australia,
New Zealand, Canada, Newfoundland, Irish Free State and South Africa.
The idea to launch the association is traced back to 1839, with the publication of the
Durham report. The modern commonwealth began in 1947 with the end of the British
rule in India. In 1949, India and Pakistan joined the commonwealth.
The commonwealth secretariat is based in London. It deals with day to day running of the organization and organizes meetings.
The head of the commonwealth is the Queen/King of England. The Commonwealth has the Heads of State Summit which meets for a week every two years to discuss political and economic issues.
There are also the Ministerial meetings once after every three years to deal with different issues.
The commonwealth has specialized agencies dealing with various areas of concern. Membership to commonwealth.
It comprised 54 developed and developing nations.
The members are categorized as follows;
1. Britain and her Dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
2. African Nations.
3. Asian nations.
4. Islands from the Caribbean, Pacific and Mediterranean.
1. Britain and her Dominions of Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
2. African Nations.
3. Asian nations.
4. Islands from the Caribbean, Pacific and Mediterranean.
Characteristics of commonwealth states
a) Members of the commonwealth use English as a common language.
b) Members maintain cultural ties. For instance, they participate in the commonwealth
games every four years.
c) Members co-operate in the field of education.
d) Members recognize the queen of England as the head of commonwealth.
e) Members have a common military tradition based on the British military system. They also promote military exchange programmes.
f) Members share common democratic institutions from Britain such as parliamentary
system of government.
g) Members have adopted constitutions that are almost similar.
Objectives that led to the formation of the commonwealth nations
a) To promote world peace and international understanding. Members are expected to
abide by the UN Peace programmes.
b) To promote development of poor member states.
c) To intensify co-operation between member states, in matters of education, sport
and economic development.
d) To ensure personal liberty and equality of rights to all citizens regardless of race,
colour, creed or political beliefs.
e) To oppose all forms of colonial dominion by being committed to the principles of
human dignity and equality, self-determination and non-racism.
f) To promote the exchange of knowledge, professionalism and cultural, economic,
legal and political issues.
a) Members of the commonwealth use English as a common language.
b) Members maintain cultural ties. For instance, they participate in the commonwealth
games every four years.
c) Members co-operate in the field of education.
d) Members recognize the queen of England as the head of commonwealth.
e) Members have a common military tradition based on the British military system. They also promote military exchange programmes.
f) Members share common democratic institutions from Britain such as parliamentary
system of government.
g) Members have adopted constitutions that are almost similar.
Objectives that led to the formation of the commonwealth nations
a) To promote world peace and international understanding. Members are expected to
abide by the UN Peace programmes.
b) To promote development of poor member states.
c) To intensify co-operation between member states, in matters of education, sport
and economic development.
d) To ensure personal liberty and equality of rights to all citizens regardless of race,
colour, creed or political beliefs.
e) To oppose all forms of colonial dominion by being committed to the principles of
human dignity and equality, self-determination and non-racism.
f) To promote the exchange of knowledge, professionalism and cultural, economic,
legal and political issues.
g) To fights poverty, ignorance and disease to remove wealth disparities and raise the
living standards, and achieve a more equitable international society.
h) To enhance free international trade by removing trade barriers, bur tat the same
time, giving due consideration to the special requirements of the developing
countries.
Organization of the Commonwealth
The structure of the commonwealth comprises of three organs;
1. The Head of state Summit. It meets once in every two years for a week for
extensive decisions and consultations. Decisions are reached by consensus.
2. Ministerial Meetings. The commonwealth ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs and defence hold regular meetings once every year. Ministers of Health, Education and Law hold meetings once every three years
3. The Commonwealth Secretariat: Headed by the secretary general and with a staff of 350 drawn from member countries. It co-ordinates co-operation among members. The first secretary General was Arnold Smith of Canada. In 1990, Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria became the first African Secretary General.
4. Specialized Agencies.
a) The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-Operation; supplies funds, finance, experts and advisers for projects carried out in member states.
b) The Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau; it provides co-operation in the field of agriculture.
c) The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; helps to improve relations between parliamentarians of member states.
d) The Commonwealth Regional Health Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa; promotes co-operation in health.
Benefits of membership to Commonwealth
a) Member states have received technical expertise through the provision of experts
and advisers in various fields e.g. agriculture.
b) The developing member states of the organization have acquired skilled manpower
through the provision of scholarship and setting up of training programmes by
nations like Britain and Canada.
c) Member states have been able to interact with one another through activities such
as the commonwealth games and cultural exchange programmes.
d) Member states have conducted trade among themselves with relative ease and this
has helped them to develop their economies.
e) The organization has promoted friendship and understanding among member states
through conferences such as The Heads of Government meetings.
f) It has enhanced democratization process in developing member states of the
organization
Problems facing Commonwealth of Nations
a) Differences in economic development levels of member states militate against co-
operation. Members coming from developing world have very different outlook from those coming from the developed world.
b) Ideological disputes among member states have hampered the operations of the Commonwealth of Nations.
c) Lacks sufficient funds to carry out its work efficiently. Poor members normally owe
many debts to their foreign masters and would therefore toe to their demands.
living standards, and achieve a more equitable international society.
h) To enhance free international trade by removing trade barriers, bur tat the same
time, giving due consideration to the special requirements of the developing
countries.
Organization of the Commonwealth
The structure of the commonwealth comprises of three organs;
1. The Head of state Summit. It meets once in every two years for a week for
extensive decisions and consultations. Decisions are reached by consensus.
2. Ministerial Meetings. The commonwealth ministers of Finance, Foreign Affairs and defence hold regular meetings once every year. Ministers of Health, Education and Law hold meetings once every three years
3. The Commonwealth Secretariat: Headed by the secretary general and with a staff of 350 drawn from member countries. It co-ordinates co-operation among members. The first secretary General was Arnold Smith of Canada. In 1990, Chief Emeka Anyaoku of Nigeria became the first African Secretary General.
4. Specialized Agencies.
a) The Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-Operation; supplies funds, finance, experts and advisers for projects carried out in member states.
b) The Commonwealth Agricultural Bureau; it provides co-operation in the field of agriculture.
c) The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association; helps to improve relations between parliamentarians of member states.
d) The Commonwealth Regional Health Secretariat for East, Central and Southern Africa; promotes co-operation in health.
Benefits of membership to Commonwealth
a) Member states have received technical expertise through the provision of experts
and advisers in various fields e.g. agriculture.
b) The developing member states of the organization have acquired skilled manpower
through the provision of scholarship and setting up of training programmes by
nations like Britain and Canada.
c) Member states have been able to interact with one another through activities such
as the commonwealth games and cultural exchange programmes.
d) Member states have conducted trade among themselves with relative ease and this
has helped them to develop their economies.
e) The organization has promoted friendship and understanding among member states
through conferences such as The Heads of Government meetings.
f) It has enhanced democratization process in developing member states of the
organization
Problems facing Commonwealth of Nations
a) Differences in economic development levels of member states militate against co-
operation. Members coming from developing world have very different outlook from those coming from the developed world.
b) Ideological disputes among member states have hampered the operations of the Commonwealth of Nations.
c) Lacks sufficient funds to carry out its work efficiently. Poor members normally owe
many debts to their foreign masters and would therefore toe to their demands.
d) The problem of sovereignty. Many countries disregard the commonwealth resolutions in favour of their sovereignty.
e) It lacks an effective machinery to affect its decisions. It also lacks a standing army to implement and effect its resolutions.
f) Loyalty to other organizations. commonwealth members are also members of other
organizations; the interests of these organizations are not in accord with those of
the commonwealth
g) The colonial legacy. Many problems arising from past colonial policies have rocked
the organization. E.g. the land issue in Zimbabwe.
h) The influence of other organizations like NATO who weaken the commonwealth by wooing members to their regions.
i) Race and colour problem. The conflict between white and black people or other colour has become another setback.
j) Dominance by the big powers. This has caused dismay to the organization. Serious
inner tension still undermines the commonwealth activities.
