Whose Commonwealth?

Written by: Ali Assad

A collection of not very important states brought together by the unhappy accident of having been colonized by the English.

It is a British consolation prize for the loss of an empire.

More surprising is that Commonwealth exists because it can be viewed as a byproduct of anti-colonial resentment that hastened the demise of the British Empire. After World War II British Empire was gradually dismantled and Commonwealth can be seen as a stepping stone in the decolonization process, a futile last grip to withhold power, control and dominance.

Commonwealth was formally known as British Commonwealth & modern day version came about 50 years ago. Previously even the Commonwealth Day was called Empire Day. English language enshrined as a means of Commonwealth communications. A royal title claims Queen Elizabeth II as the head.

Of course it is not that deficient but has possibilities and advantages and a small queue of countries wanting to join.

Technically speaking the Commonwealth operates by intergovernmental organization of the member states organized through the Commonwealth secretariat and non-governmental organization organized through Commonwealth Foundation.

On a brighter note Commonwealth provides space for small underdeveloped nations to speak with big countries on a level platform. Helps and encourages underdeveloped nations to raise there standard of democracy, rights, governance and strengthens social economic development.

However, its rather ambitious objectives have become a thorn in its irrelevant decaying body.

Boasts of World peace, democracy and individual liberty, pursuit of equality, opposition to racism, fight against poverty, ignorance and disease, discrimination on the basis of gender and environmental sustainability

A pitiful budget makes it a useless tool for any global role.

Recent years has seen its purpose & relevance questioned because of its commitment to enforce its core values. Its stand is becoming ambiguous in the eyes of the member states.

In 20 century it is ludicrous to believe that in contemporary Australia that the legal head of the Australian state can never be chosen by the people or their representatives and can never be an indigenous person but from one family of English aristocrats living in a palace in London.

It was as late as 1991 the apartheid system in South Africa was ended.

As the imperial powers and dominance dwindled new ideas were floated to prevent Britain from becoming isolated in economic affairs and countries like Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, and Netherlands were originally invited to join the Commonwealth but later became, what is known as the European Union.

During the decolonization process some countries that had not joined the Commonwealth include United Arab Emirates and Egypt. Others like British Palestine are now turned into Israel.

Support for Commonwealth is twice as high in underdeveloped nations compared to developed nations.

Commonwealth has no trade privileges or economic policy and has diminished into a private club falsely trying to uphold democracy and human rights.

Importance of Commonwealth has deteriorated so low that most people in the Commonwealth countries believe that Commonwealth & Commonwealth Games are the same thing. It’s an opportunity for England, once in every four years, to win things in the sporting arena.

United Kingdom trade with Commonwealth countries is four times larger then European Union.

So whose Commonwealth its it? I will leave the answer to the readers.

On 3^rd October 2013 Gambia became the most recent nation to withdraw from the Commonwealth.

With the current turmoil of the #Brexit vote results, it is expected for more nations to fall off from the UK like a pack of dominoes. This will further diminish the old imperial powers collective say in the world stage.

Maldives as an underdeveloped nation has benefited from the Commonwealth. It has substantially grown into a developing nation and now Commonwealth has become more of a burden, a waste of time of government that would be better spent on regional trade blocks and packs that matter.

We have milked the Queen dry, so is it time to move on for better greener pastures?