The British Common Wealth a colonial institution?
After decolonization, the Commonwealth evolved into a modern intergovernmental organization that promoted cooperation, dialogue, and understanding among its members. The Commonwealth Secretariat was established in 1965 to provide administrative support to the organization and to coordinate its activities. The Secretariat is based in London and is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the heads of government for a four-year term.
The idea of a Commonwealth of Nations was first proposed at the 1926 Imperial Conference in London. The conference brought together the leaders of the British Empire to discuss the future of the Empire and its relations with other countries. The conference marked a turning point in the history of the Empire, as it recognized the equal status of the dominions (Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa) with Britain and granted them greater autonomy in their domestic and foreign affairs.
The conference also established the principle of the “dominion status,” which meant that the dominions were self-governing and equal in status to Britain. This principle laid the foundation for the Commonwealth, as it recognized the sovereignty of each member state and their right to govern themselves. The conference also created the British Commonwealth of Nations, which was a loose association of countries that shared a common allegiance to the British Crown.
The Commonwealth underwent a major transformation after World War II, as the process of decolonization swept through the Empire. The end of the war marked the beginning of a new era in world history, as the old colonial powers faced new challenges and the former colonies demanded independence. The process of decolonization was slow and uneven, but it eventually led to the creation of many new states in Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean.
The Commonwealth played a crucial role in this process, as it provided a framework for dialogue, cooperation, and support between the former colonies and the former colonizers. The Commonwealth became a forum for discussing issues of mutual concern, such as trade, development, and human rights.
After decolonization, the Commonwealth evolved into a modern intergovernmental organization that promoted cooperation, dialogue, and understanding among its members. The Commonwealth Secretariat was established in 1965 to provide administrative support to the organization and to coordinate its activities. The Secretariat is based in London and is headed by the Secretary-General, who is appointed by the heads of government for a four-year term.
The Commonwealth has also developed a number of institutions and programs to support its members and to promote its values and objectives. These include the Commonwealth Foundation, the Commonwealth of Learning, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative. The Commonwealth has also established a number of funds and schemes to support development, education, and health in its member states, such as the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation, the Commonwealth Education Fund, and the Commonwealth Health Fund.
Today, the Commonwealth is a dynamic and diverse organization that brings together 54 countries from around the world. Its members include some of the largest and most populous countries in the world, such as India, Nigeria, and Pakistan, as well as some of the smallest and most remote, such as Nauru and Tuvalu. The Commonwealth is also a highly diverse organization, with members from all regions of the world, from Africa to Asia to the Americas.
Although the Commonwealth of Nations is presented as being an institution which is designed to bring the nations of the world together, the Commonwealth is merely a continuation of the legacy of the British colonial empire. The Commonwealth not only sustains Western hegemony over nations which were formerly colonized, but it also sustains the neo-colonial system which sees that former colonies remain oppressed and impoverished.
The colonial nature of the Commonwealth was demonstrated when Togo and Gabon were admitted as member states. Neither nation was colonized by Britain. Moreover, both are ruled by a dictator who inherited power from their fathers, who served as the previous dictator. This obviously contradicts with the Commonwealth’s stated objective of promoting democratic values. It also exposes the fact that the Commonwealth exists to uphold the neo-colonial system. It’s a modern incarnation of the old British colonial empire.
