Does the Commonwealth Still Serve an Important Role Today?
There has been much debate about the Commonwealth of Nations’ role in the 21st century. Is this 54-nation alliance a relic of colonialism’s cruel and inequitable legacy? Is it a powerful diplomatic bloc of nations with similar ideals? Is it evolving into something else?
Bad PR for the Commonwealth
On November 30th, 2021, Barbados officially became a republic. Many Barbadians saw this move as the abolition of one of the last vestiges of the island nation’s colonial past. Violence, racism, and inequality have characterized much of that history.
People in other Commonwealth nations have subsequently questioned the value of retaining Queen Elizabeth II as their head of state, most notably Jamaica. Over the past two years, topics of European colonialism, wealth disparity, and oppression of black, indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) have been part of the cultural zeitgeist. The idea of a British monarchy seems not merely anachronistic to many, but even unjust. Add to this the scandals surrounding Prince Andrew and the Caribbean tour of Prince William and Duchess Kate Middleton, and it might seem like the Commonwealth is more trouble than it’s worth.
The Misconception of the Commonwealth
Despite what some news outlets have reported, Barbados did not leave the Commonwealth. Barbados is still a member of the Commonwealth of Nations even though they no longer recognize the Queen. And Barbados isn’t alone.
In fact, only 15 of the Commonwealth’s 54 member countries acknowledge the Queen as their figurehead. The Commonwealth has far more republics, 34, than constitutional monarchies. Five of the countries even have their own monarchs. And republics have been welcomed in the Commonwealth since India became a republic in 1950, when its constitution went into effect. Despite being an independent republic, India chose to remain a Commonwealth member.
The commonwealth comprises nations that at one point were entirely or partially administered as a British colony, regardless of their current political system. And even that’s not a hard rule. Both Mozambique and Rwanda are members and neither had any constitutional links to the UK. But given that the criteria to be a Commonwealth member is so loose, what does the Commonwealth even mean anymore?
What Is the Commonwealth Today?
The Commonwealth is symbolic, but that doesn’t mean it’s meaningless. Symbols have meaning. There are no special legal obligations for Commonwealth members, but membership does offer opportunities for countries to work together closely on diplomatic and economic matters. A study by the Royal Commonwealth Society found that trade among Commonwealth members is up to 50% higher than with non-members on average. There are also talks about establishing a Commonwealth free trade agreement. Perhaps the Commonwealth’s future is as a trading bloc more than anything else.
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