The decision that set the tone for the Modern Commonwealth

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By Kavinda Ratnapala

Today the commonwealth as it is known comprises of 54 countries and has come to fundamentally influence how the world speaks about human rights and democracy; while taking a clear stance against its member’s authoritarian tendencies, especially since the 90s. The well documented post-colonial commonwealth history would not have existed but for perhaps the most consequential decision taken with regards to the organization in April of 1949.

When in late 2021, Barbados bid farewell to its dominion status, all it meant was that it had decided to move on from the recognition of the British Monarch as its head of state to form a Republic that appointed its own head of state. In essence a change of form. This change of legal status while significant had very little impact on the function of the country and especially in its relation to the commonwealth. Yet, this smooth transition in both form and function would not have been possible if not for the events that took place in April 1949 when the Prime Ministers of His Majesties Commonwealth met in London.

This was a unique time in history defined by the proliferation of international legal instruments covering all domains of international relations and even regional life. The crux of which still underpin the modern international legal order and is relied upon to this date in managing the ever-evolving intricacies of international affairs.  Amongst these numerous treaties was the 1949 London Declaration that made possible the Modern Commonwealth by de-emphasising the organization’s “British” element and switching focus from the isles to the former colonies.

After gaining Independence in 1947, it was evident by the start of 1949 that India under Nehru’s leadership was on the path to shedding its dominion status and claiming itself a republic. While Nehru had made his desires to stay a part of the Commonwealth clear from the start, due to the young nations’ security and economic needs. This raised an epoch-defining challenge as all other members continued to recognize the British King as their respective head of state. Furthermore, the centrality of the monarchy to the commonwealth was codified in the 1926 Balfour Declaration which stated that the “British Commonwealth” as it was known at the time was connected by the commonwealth of nations’ allegiance to the crown. It was this very position that led to Ireland leaving the commonwealth the same year with the passage of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.  

To prevent a hard separation which was being clamored for by certain sections of India’s independence generation. Nehru, shrewdly split the difference and the commonwealth chose to embrace change and move on with the times. With the adoption of the aforementioned London Declaration, the prefix of British was dropped with the freedom and equality of its members emphasized. It declared, once and for all that the ‘Crown’ would henceforth be seen as a symbol of the free association of its independent members and as such Head of the Commonwealth. No longer would the commonwealth function to serve the best interests of Britain but it would be a vehicle for the people of the commonwealth to strive for their own betterment.

The success of this project is most keenly felt in Africa, where the shift from the developed to the developing world was best felt.  The Commonwealth proved to be an excellent forum for diplomatic pursuits and in particular, a forum in which to court donors from within and outside of the commonwealth for their respective benefit. Additionally, it was a forum for informal dispute resolutions between its members. As a result of this perceived advantage, even nations without a British Colonial past such as Mozambique in 1995 and Rwanda in 2009 lobbied and successfully joined the Commonwealth with Angola currently seeking a future with the organization.

The willingness to adapt to the times has been the organisation’s most powerful tool in staying relevant. Whereas in the past Ireland actively sort to divest itself from the British Commonwealth. Under the Commonwealth, nations without a shared British colonial past are seeking to join its ranks. While the intentions of such actions can be debated by scholars, the effective reality is that functionally the Commonwealth still holds distinct benefits for its members. It is the clear-eyed decision to double down on that which works and shed decaying elements within which will ensure it does not risk atrophy once more as it did in 1949.

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