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Commonwealth of Nations

From ProleWiki, the proletarian encyclopedia
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Commonwealth of Nations
Flag of Commonwealth of Nations
Flag
Coat of arms of Commonwealth of Nations
Coat of arms
Dark Blue: Current member state Green: Suspended member state Orange: Former member states Light Blue: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
Dark Blue: Current member state
Green: Suspended member state
Orange: Former member states
Light Blue: British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies
HeadquartersMarlborough House, London, United Kingdom
Leaders
• Head
Charles III
• Secretary-General
Patricia Scotland
• Chair-in-Office
Paul Kagame
History
• Balfour Declaration
19 November 1926
• Statute of Westminster
11 December 1931
• London Declaration
28 April 1949
Area
• Total
29,958,050 km²


The Commonwealth, officially the Commonwealth of Nations, is an imperialist intergovernmental organisation made up mostly of former British colonies. The organisation is used by the British to tie itself to its former colonies, and maintain the liberal world order, with 15 out of the 56 members still using the British monarch as head of state.[1]

History[edit | edit source]

Foundation[edit | edit source]

In the 19th century Britain started reforming its most important colonies into dominions, allowing them to be semi-autonomous. From 1887 leaders of these dominions attended conferences with Britain with the 1926 Imperial Conference being attended by the leaders of Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, Newfoundland, New Zealand, and South Africa. At the 1926 conference the Balfour Declaration was made which declared that supposedly all members were "equal members of the community of the British Empire", thus beginning the reformation of the Empire into the Commonwealth.[2]

Modern Commonwealth[edit | edit source]

In 1949 following the independence of India in 1947, a meeting was held in London where the London Declaration was made. Following independence India wanted to remove the monarch as head of state but remain in the commonwealth, this declaration allowed republics to remain in the commonwealth, and under British Imperialist control. Following this, as former British colonies declared their independence they joined the Commonwealth.[2]

In 1961 South Africa left the Commonwealth due to its Apartheid laws, it would re-join again in 1994 following the official end of apartheid.[2]

In 1972 Pakistan withdrew from the Commonwealth in protest at the Commonwealth's recognition, and acceptance of Bangladesh into the organisation. It would re-join in 1989.[2]

In 1987 Fiji left following a coup, re-joining in 1997 before being suspended yet again in 2000 following another coup.[2]

In 1995 Nigeria was suspended following the execution of Ken Saro-Wiwa. It would be reinstated in 1999.[2]

In 1999 Pakistan was suspended following a military coup.[2]

In 2001 Fiji was reinstated following bourgeois elections before being suspended again in 2009 following another coup.[2]

Suspension of Zimbabwe[edit | edit source]

In 2002 Zimbabwe was suspended from the Commonwealth and in 2003 withdrew,[2] following its land reform act. This act redistributed land to subsistence farmers from the estates of wealthy white corporate farmers who had expropriated the land. Naturally this was treated as a threat by British Capitalism, and it expelled Zimbabwe from the organisation, ordering all members to cut ties with Zimbabwe. Following the expulsion the UK enforced harsh sanctions, backed by the US, which caused hyperinflation and economic chaos. British capitalism used Zimbabwe as an example for the rest of the Commonwealth of what would happen if they dared to defy the wishes of the Liberal World order.[1]

21st Century[edit | edit source]

In 2004 Pakistan was reinstated before being suspended again in 2007 following a declared state of emergency and suspension of the constitution. It was reinstated once more in 2008.[2]

In 2013 Gambia left followed by Maldives in 2016 but the former would re-join in 2018 and the latter in 2020.[2]

In 2014 Fiji was reinstated.[2]

Member States[edit | edit source]

Country First Joined Continent
Antigua and Barbuda 1 November 1981 Americas
Australia 19 November 1926 Oceania
Bahamas 10 July 1973 Americas
Bangladesh 18 April 1972 Asia
Barbados 30 November 1966 Americas
Belize 21 September 1981 Americas
Botswana 30 September 1966 Africa
Brunei 7 May 1984 Asia
Cameroon 1 November 1995 Africa
Canada 19 November 1926 Americas
Cyprus 13 March 1961 Asia
Dominica 3 November 1978 Americas
Eswatini 6 September 1968 Africa
Fiji 10 October 1970 Oceania
Gabon 25 June 2022 Africa
Gambia 18 February 1965 Africa
Ghana 6 March 1957 Africa
Grenada 7 February 1974 Americas
Guyana 26 May 1966 Americas
India 15 August 1947 Asia
Jamaica 6 August 1962 Americas
Kenya 12 December 1963 Africa
Kiribati 12 July 1979 Oceania
Lesotho 4 October 1966 Africa
Malawi 6 July 1964 Africa
Malaysia 31 August 1957 Asia
Maldives 9 July 1982 Asia
Malta 21 September 1964 Europe
Mauritius 12 March 1968 Africa
Mozambique 13 November 1995 Africa
Namibia 21 March 1990 Africa
Nauru 29 November 1968 Oceania
New Zealand 19 November 1926 Oceania
Nigeria 1 October 1960 Africa
Pakistan 14 August 1947 Asia
Papua New Guinea 16 September 1975 Oceania
Rwanda 29 November 2009 Africa
Saint Kitts and Nevis 19 September 1983 Americas
Saint Lucia 22 February 1979 Americas
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 27 October 1979 Americas
Samoa 28 August 1970 Oceania
Seychelles 28 June 1976 Africa
Sierra Leone 27 April 1961 Africa
Singapore 15 October 1965 Asia
Solomon Islands 7 July 1978 Oceania
South Africa 19 November 1926 Africa
Sri Lanka 4 February 1948 Asia
Tanzania 9 December 1961 Africa
Togo 25 June 2022 Africa
Tonga 4 June 1970 Oceania
Trinidad and Tobago 31 August 1962 Americas
Tuvalu 1 October 1978 Oceania
Uganda 9 October 1962 Africa
United Kingdom 19 November 1926 Europe
Vanuatu 30 July 1980 Oceania
Zambia 24 October 1964 Africa

References[edit | edit source]

  1. 1.0 1.1 Sara Flounders (2022-09-13). "How royalty reinforces imperialism through Commonwealth of Nations" Workers World.
  2. 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 "Our History" (2024). thecommonwealth.org.