How relevant is the Commonwealth? | The Stream

This month the United Kingdom will host a gathering of some 53 heads of government representing about a third of the world's population, all of them members of the Commonwealth of Nations. But what exactly is the Commonwealth and does being a member really matter?

The Commonwealth was formed in 1949, in part, as a way to give former British colonies the ability to establish their own government. Over the years it’s grown to include nations with no ties to the United Kingdom. However to join, a nation must have a historical constitutional association with another Commonwealth country. Joining nations must also agree to the broad principles of the Commonwealth - development, democracy, human rights and peace.

Some so-called Brexiters, those in favour of the United Kingdom leaving the European Union, believe the Commonwealth could take the place of the EU. That’s an idea journalist Ishaan Tharoor disagrees with. Tharoor, a foreign affairs correspondent for The Washington Post, believes it’s far-fetched to assume that the Commonwealth will take the place of other global partnerships.

So does the Commonwealth have a purpose? We'll discuss that on this episode of The Stream.

Guests:

Ishaan Tharoor @ishaantharoor
Foreign Affairs Reporter, The Washington Post

Hon. Patricia Scotland @PScotlandCSG
Commonwealth Secretary-General

Ibtisam Ahmed @Ibzor
Doctoral Researcher, University of Nottingham

Timothy M. Shaw
Former Director, Institute of Commonwealth Studies

Join the conversation:

[andrewwillington]

England should play a pivotal part in bringing together all the commonwealth nations so that they extend cooperation to one another.

[guyanasun]

The goal for the common wealth of nations is to reduce ignorance, diseases and poverty.. We don't expect people to accept or change the past, but we must move on as a world...deal with eatchother now...

How could anyone argue with that.. All members are willing participants...
Who is anyone to tell those proudly living in commonwealth nations?

When too many nations go astray, doing their own thing with lesser knowledge on what's most productive, we create problems bumping into eatchother. Some people cry about racism from the 20th century because they're anchors in the 21st..

We all give ourselves power in common direction, clarity and competence in mutually benefiting objectives.

The whole empire lives better than the other half of our world by comparison because we share bonds in "Commonwealth"

[canzukcommonwealth]

As a Brit I would like to say to all commonwealth nations I’m sorry for our ancestors, but we are not the same people and have open arms to all as equals ❤️

[rebbiakiva]

The Anglosphere is as important as ever and should stick together above all else. The Anglosphere has shared values and culture. The UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the USA should align themselves and their economies.

[luxushauseragency]

Fantastic answers from the Secretary General. Not so from the less informed participants.

[firelord]

All country under commonwealth can easily get pass the visa to visit one another.. And if one of commonwealth members need aid.. They help one another

[manzurkassam]

These young people have learnt nothing but pure Tosh. Open your eyes and stand on your own two feet. You dont need the help of this small island, look at what is happening in middle east, and so many other places.

[MrRooibos]

Commonwealth preference should be introduced.

[CRiver]

If the countries don't want to have any sense of community. Then dissolve the commonwealth and go your own way.

[RodFromCanada]

As a Canadian, The Commonwealth is the most powerful league of nations in the world.

[rauleyshar]

Commonwealth currency and free trade will help all countries. Africa got the precious metals/minerals while India got fruits, vegetables and IT. UK got services while Australia got natural resources and Canada got Petroleum. Other nations got pretty beaches. Most commonwealth countries constitutions derived from Magna Carta and share common element so called democracy. At this given time, combine GDP will surplus 11 trillion$. There is a potential for all the common wealth countries to be self-efficient.

[markbreislin]

As a Brit I would like to say suck it up most of the countries mentioned weren’t even sovereign nations at the time India wasn’t even a country and they happily joined at the beginning as we helped destroy local enemies if it wasn’t the British empire it would be somebody else as it was before like the Dutch French and ottomans
Also it’s not compulsory to join the commonwealth they can leave anytime but still choose to do so there must be some benefit . Some countries left and then rejoined and some of the countries that are now members were never even part of the commonwealth

[leekelly]

The only time we hear about the commonwealth is when we have the Commonwealth games or if a member becomes a Republic and the tabloids in the UK 💩 themselves thinking that the monarchy is over.. personally I think if the Commonwealth was a more free trade and movement of businesses and people it might create a more equal sense of Common people, unfortunately we don’t live in a nice world…

[juliana_f_c]

Trigger warning: Margaret Thatcher content at 22:58 Skip to 21:45

[laodesyukur]

I wanna be a king of Commonwealth countries, leads those prime ministers correctly and kindly, make prosper and wealthy together... my wives too learn many aspects to make them capable to work together with the ministers and some principals in every single countries, work together with the EU and many others... i have many planning here... if you don't believe, at least don't judge without reason, right... 🌐🇬🇧❤️

[SNQU]

22:00 the queen was the queen of all the commonwealth😮 Neocolonialism maybe. The world needs more diversification and inclusivity not trying to hold on to the status quo and create their own history that leaves out the rest of the major world population POC.

[neilwilliams]

Theirs lots of sayings throw the baby out with the bath water .cut off your nose to spite your face and so on .Which has a lot validity.the commonwealth doe's have some value" But it shouldn't be because of sports event every two years .or the delusion every commonwealth shares both common law or language.because these people know better than that We don't all together share this .A specially over the past 50 years .Diferent language's are spoken although basic rules of law doe's apply .The true benefit of these's countries coming together are they have a chance chew things out .Where the u.n and other body's struggling to do .But let's NOT hope this will Be Britain excuse to think they can have their little empire back NOW their out of the European Union .

[timegone]

Read this comment. If you want to Understand why Colonialism happened the way it did?
People that talk about Colonialism and the Past Conduct The Britain Government and Blame the British Monarchy for it.
Go Study what Happened between The Monarchy and The British Government Regarding its Political Authority in the Past.
The British Monarchy does Not have the Political Power that they think it does.
The British Monarchy was Stripped of its Political Power Centuries Ago.
The British Monarch remains the Head of State ONLY, but the POWER to make Decisions is the British Government's ALONE.
It could Not Change or affect how the British Government Conducted itself regarding Colonialism or Doing Trades or Anything Else, Political!!!
Contrary to Popular Belief.
They get to Stand Back and Watch. Or They are Gone!!!
His Majesty King Charles III Can NOT Issue an Apology for Colonialism Without the Permission of The British Government. (Which He wants to Do in your case you're Interested)
If He Did!!!
It Would Cause a Constitutional Crisis in Britain and a Violation of their Laws regarding The Monarchy.
The Monarchy Is Not Quite What You Think It Is Anymore And Hasn't Been Before All of US Were Even Born.
I'm Canadian and I was Shocked when Learned the Real Truth regarding the Real Power of the Monarchy.
Basically The King is more of a Figurehead than anything else Unlike the Ancient Past

[josewilliams]

After a couple of days of sentimental nostalgia for the Queen's passing, Australians have rapidly dived into an interesting TV debate about leaving the Commonwealth, that is seen by most as pointless and a waste of resources by a wealthy family that enjoys travel but at their hosts' expense. The majority of Aussies voted to leave the Commonwealth several years ago, but no action was taken at government level, probably because of the affection / respect conservative MP's still felt for the Queen. Our colonial past reverberates today, and not in a good way. The same debate is already happening in NZ. It seems it's only a matter of time, now the Queen has gone.

[mariascott]

It reminds you of The Hunger Games the movie