In addition, the Commonwealth contributes through its support and advocacy role for small states and the role it plays in certain regional contexts. This situation can be seen in relation to various global issues covering geopolitics, the global economy, climate change and human rights.
As a forum for trying out particular approaches, the Commonwealth has some advantages with its North-South dimension and the way it brings together a range of countries from small states to middle powers to major powers. While the Commonwealth plays a relatively minor role in contemporary international relations, it does have some significance as a mini version of global multilateralism.Īn important aspect of contemporary international relations is the way in which many issues are dealt with through a process of coalition building, bringing together like-minded countries to advance agreed policy goals. However, it would be shortsighted to judge the contemporary international significance of the Commonwealth as a kind of imperial relic. There are cultural, political, institutional and economic links deriving from the imperial past and these links can be relevant in various ways today. While 31 of the current 53 members are classed as small states, there are also significant emerging powers such as India, Nigeria and South Africa. Since the establishment of the Commonwealth of Nations in its current form in 1965, the Commonwealth has been predominantly an organisation of developing countries, albeit with the participation of the United Kingdom and the three ‘old Dominions’ of Canada, Australia and New Zealand. It makes a good time to consider the significance of this multilateral forum in today’s international affairs. It’s a big week for the Commonwealth as the Games end on the Gold Coast and attention shifts to the Heads of Government Meeting about to start in London.
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