Commonwealth of Nations

The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire.

Non-members

Tongue in cheek, Charles de Gaulle twice suggested that France, though it was never a member of the British Empire (even if for centuries English/British monarchs claimed the title 'King of France') should apply for Commonwealth membership; this idea was never realised, but may be seen as a follow-up to a proposal made by Churchill to join the British and French governments during World War II, instead of the puppet regime of Vichy France. David Ben-Gurion suggested that Israel join the Commonwealth, but this proposal was opposed by most Israelis for suggesting dependence upon the United Kingdom, and by the organisation as suggesting a firmer support for Israel than it actually offered.

Related Topics:
Charles de Gaulle - France - King of France - World War II - Vichy France - David Ben-Gurion - Israel

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Egypt and Iraq have never shown an interest in joining the Commonwealth, despite their histories of British rule. Similarly Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, and Oman are not members. Nor is the United States, which was formed from former British colonies in 1776 and maintains close cultural ties with the United Kingdom. Hong Kong also did not join the Commonwealth following the end of British rule in 1997, as it was ceeded to the People's Republic of China as a special administrative region.

Related Topics:
Egypt - Iraq - Bahrain - Jordan - Kuwait - Oman - United States - 1776 - Hong Kong - People's Republic of China - Special administrative region

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Suspension

In recent years the Commonwealth has suspended several members "from the Councils of the Commonwealth" for failure to uphold democratic government. Suspended members are not represented at meetings of Commonwealth leaders and ministers, although they remain members of the organisation. Fiji, which had ceased to be a member of the Commonwealth 1987–1997 as a result of a republican coup d'etat, was suspended 2000–2001, after a military coup, as was Pakistan from 1999 until 2004. Nigeria was suspended between 1995 and 1999. Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002 over concerns with the electoral and land reform policies of Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF government, before withdrawing from the organisation in 2003.

Related Topics:
Fiji - 1987 - 1997 - 2000 - 2001 - Pakistan - 1999 - 2004 - 1995 - Zimbabwe - 2002 - Robert Mugabe - Zanu-PF - 2003

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Termination of membership

As membership is purely voluntary, member governments can choose at any time to leave the Commonwealth. Pakistan left the Commonwealth in 1972 in protest at Commonwealth recognition of breakaway Bangladesh, but rejoined in 1989. Zimbabwe left the Commonwealth in 2003 when Commonwealth Heads of Government refused to lift the country's suspension on human rights and governance grounds.

Related Topics:
1972 - Bangladesh - 1989 - Zimbabwe

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Although Heads of Government have the power to suspend member states, the Commonwealth has no provision for the expulsion of members. However, Commonwealth Realms which become republics automatically cease to be members unless, like India in 1950, they obtain the permission of other members to remain in the organisation as a republic. The Republic of Ireland did not apply for re-admittance after becoming a republic in 1949, as the Commonwealth at the time did not allow republican membership. However the leader of its Opposition at the time, Eamon de Valera, believed the Republic of Ireland's decision not to apply to stay was a mistake. He and his successor as Taoiseach, Sean Lemass, both considered re-applying. Éamon Ó Cuív, a minister in the present Irish Government (and himself de Valera's grandson), raised the issue of the Republic's possible reapplication a number of times in the 1990s. However, the issue arouses both some hostility and disinterest in Ireland, where some people still associate the Commonwealth with British imperialism, even though the majority of member states are now republics. The Republic of Ireland was the first nation ever to leave the Commonwealth and not rejoin.

Related Topics:
Commonwealth Realm - Republic of Ireland - Eamon de Valera - Taoiseach - Sean Lemass - Éamon Ó Cuív

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

South Africa was effectively prevented from continuing as a member after it became a republic in 1962 as a result of hostility from many members, particularly those in Africa and Asia as well as Canada, to its policy of apartheid. The South African government chose not to apply to remain in the organisation as a republic since it was clear any such application would have been rejected. South Africa was re-admitted to the Commonwealth in 1995, after the end of apartheid in 1990.

Related Topics:
South Africa - 1962 - Apartheid - 1995 - 1990

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The declaration of a republic in the Fiji Islands in 1987, after military coups designed to deny Indo-Fijians in Fiji political power, was not accompanied by application to remain. Commonwealth membership was held to have lapsed until 1997, after racialist provisions in the republican constitution were repealed and reapplication for membership made.

Related Topics:
Fiji - Military coups - Indo-Fijians - 1997 - Racialist

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~