CLASE 2 – ASPECTOS BASICOS DE LA CULTURA ANGLOFONA

“THE COMMONWEALTH”

“Commonwealth flag”

It dates back to the first half of the 20th century with the decolonisation of the British Empire through increased self-governance
of its territories. It was originally created as the British Commonwealth of Nations through the Balfour Declaration at the 1926
Imperial Conference, and formalized by the United Kingdom through the Statute of Westminster in 1931. The head of the
Commonwealth is Charles III. He is king of 15 members states, known as the Commonwealth realms, while 36 other members are
republics, and five others have different monarchs. Member states have no legal obligations to one another but are connected
through their use of the English language and historical ties. Citizenship of a Commonwealth country affords benefits in some
member countries, particularly in the United Kingdom.
Current members

Country First Joined UN Region UN System of Important Facts

Subregion government

Antigua and 1 November Americas Caribbean Unitary Common

Barbuda 1981 wealth realm

Australia 19 Oceania Australia and Federal Common Australia was one of the
November New Zealand wealth realm original Dominions at the
1926 time of the Balfour
Declaration of 1926 and
the Statute of Westminster
1931, although the statute
was not adopted in Australia
until 1942 (with retroactive
effect from 1939).
The Australia Act
1986 eliminated the
remaining possibilities for the
UK to legislate with effect in
Australia, for the UK to be
involved in Australian
government

Bahamas 10 July 1973 Americas Caribbean Unitary

Commonwealth
realm

Bangladesh 18 April Asia Southern Asia Unitary Westmin Declared independence

1972 ster republic from Pakistan in 1971.

Barbados 30 Americas Caribbean Unitary Barbados removed Elizabeth

November Westminster II as its head of state
1966 republic and became a republic on 30
November 2021.

Belize 21 Americas Central Unitary

September America Commonwealth
1981 realm

Botswana 30 Africa Southern Unitary parliame

September Africa ntary republic
1966 with an executive
presidency

Brunei 1 January Asia South-eastern Unitary Islamic a

1984 Asia bsolute
monarchy

Cameroon 13 Africa Middle Africa Unitary semi- Most of the country was the
November presidential formerly
1995 republic French mandate territory
(later UN trust territory)
 of Cameroun, which gained
independence from France on
1 January 1960. It united with
the much smaller former
British mandate/trust territory
of Southern Cameroons,
which gained independence
from the United Kingdom on
1 October 1961.

Canada 19 Americas Northern Federal Canada was the first among

November America Commonwealth the several original
1926 realm Dominions at the time of
the Balfour Declaration of
1926 and the Statute of
Westminster 1931.
Incorporated another original
Dominion, Newfoundland, on
31 March 1949. The Canada
Act 1982 formally ended the
"request and consent"
provisions of the Statute of
Westminster 1931 in relation
to Canada, whereby the
British parliament had a
general power to pass laws
extending to Canada at its
own request.

Cyprus[D] 13 March Asia Western Asia Unitary president Gained independence from
1961 ial republic the United Kingdom on 16
August 1960. Britain retains
military bases at Akrotiri and
Dhekelia. Northern Cyprus is
not recognised by the
Commonwealth.

Dominica 3 November Americas Caribbean Unitary Dominica has always been a

1978 Westminster republic since independence.
republic

Eswatini 6 September Africa Southern Unitary absolute Joined as Swaziland,

1968 Africa monarchy subsequently changing its
name to Eswatini on 19 April
2018.

Fiji 10 October Oceania Melanesia Unitary Left in 1987; rejoined in

1970 Westminster 1997; suspended on 6 June
republic 2000; suspension lifted on 20
December 2001; again
suspended on 8 December
2006 because of the 2006
Fijian coup d'état. Suspension
lifted on 26 September 2014.

Gabon 25 June Africa Middle Africa Unitary Gained independence

2022 presidential from France on 17 August
republic 1960. The third
(after Mozambique and Rwan
da) to be admitted to the
Commonwealth without any
 former colonial or
constitutional links with the
United Kingdom.

Gambia 18 February Africa Western Unitary Withdrew on 3 October 2013

1965 Africa presidential citing "neocolonialism".
republic Following
the election of Adama
Barrow as President of
Gambia in 2016, it submitted
an application to rejoin the
Commonwealth on 22
January 2018, and rejoined
on 8 February 2018.

Ghana 6 March Africa Western Unitary

1957 Africa presidential
republic

Grenada 7 February Americas Caribbean Unitary

1974 Commonwealth
realm

Guyana 26 May Americas South Unitary

1966 America presidential
republic

India 15 August Asia Southern Asia Federal Incorporated former French

1947 Westminster India (Chandannagar from 2
republic May 1950
and Puducherry, Karaikal, Ya
nam and Mahé from 1
November 1954),
former Portuguese
India (Goa, Daman and Diu f
rom 19 December 1961
and Dadra and Nagar
Haveli formally from 1961)
and Sikkim (from 16 May
1975).

Jamaica 6 August Americas Caribbean Unitary

1962 Commonwealth
realm

Kenya 12 Africa Eastern Unitary

December Africa presidential
1963 republic

Kiribati 12 July 1979 Oceania Micronesia Unitary

parliamentary
republic with an
executive
presidency
Lesotho 4 October Africa Southern Unitary
1966 Africa Westminster
monarchy[E]

Malawi 6 July 1964 Africa Eastern Unitary

Africa presidential
republic

Malaysia 31 August Asia South-eastern Federal Joined as the Federation of

1957[28][29] Asia Westminster Malaya in 1957; reformed as
monarchy[E] Malaysia on 16 September
1963 with its federation
with Singapore (which
became a separate country on
9 August 1965), North
Borneo, and Sarawak.[30]

Maldives 9 July 1982 Asia Southern Asia Unitary Gained independence from
presidential the United Kingdom on 26
republic July 1965. A special
member from 9 July 1982
until 20 July
1985.[32] Withdrew on 13
October 2016. Rejoined on 1
February 2020.

Malta[F] 21 Europe Southern Unitary Gained independence from

September Europe Westminster the United Kingdom on 21
1964 republic September 1964 as the State
of Malta. Became a republic
on 13 December 1974.

Mauritius 12 March Africa Eastern Unitary Became a republic on 12

1968 Africa Westminster March 1992.
republic

Mozambique 13 Africa Eastern Unitary semi- Former dependency

November Africa presidential of Portuguese India until
1995 republic 1752. Gained independence
from Portugal on 25 June
1975. The first country to be
admitted to the
Commonwealth without any
former colonial or
constitutional links with the
United Kingdom.

Namibia 21 March Africa Southern Unitary semi- Gained independence

1990 Africa presidential from South Africa. It
republic Includes Walvis Bay and
the Penguin
Islands transferred by South
Africa at midnight 28
February 1994.

Nauru 1 November Oceania Micronesia Unitary Gained independence on 31

1968 parliamentary January 1968 from joint
republic with an trusteeship of Australia, New
 executive Zealand and United
presidency Kingdom. A special
member from 1 November
1968 until 1 May 1999, when
it became a full
member,[39] before reverting
to special status in January
2006.[40] A full member again
since June 2011.[41]

New Zealand 19 Oceania Australia and Unitary Granted nominal

November New Zealand Commonwealth independence
1926 realm (Dominion status) on 26
September 1907. One of the
original Dominions at the
time of the Balfour
Declaration of 1926 and
the Statute of Westminster
1931, although the Statute
was not adopted in New
Zealand until 1947. Removed
final links with the British
Parliament in 1986. Removed
the final link with the British
legal system (Judicial
Committee of the Privy
Council) in 2003.

Nigeria 1 October Africa Western Federal Incorporated the former

1960 Africa presidential British mandate/trust territory
republic of Northern Cameroons on 31
May 1961. Suspended in
1995, suspension lifted in
1999.

Pakistan 14 August Asia Southern Asia Federal Includes the city of Gwadar,
1947 Westminster transferred from Muscat and
republic Oman on 8 September 1958.
Included Bangladesh (then
known as East Pakistan) until
1971. Left Commonwealth in
1972, rejoined 1990, effective
retroactively from October
1989; suspended in 1999,
suspension lifted in 2004;
again, suspended in
2007, suspension lifted in
2008.

Papua New 16 Oceania Melanesia Unitary Gained independence

Guinea September Commonwealth from Australia.
1975 realm

Rwanda 29 Africa Eastern Unitary Gained independence

November Africa presidential from Belgium on 1 July
2009 republic 1962. The second country
(after Mozambique) to be
admitted to the
Commonwealth without any
former colonial or
constitutional links with the
United Kingdom. Admitted
 despite the Commonwealth
Human Rights
Initiative (CHRI) finding that
"the state of governance
and human rights in
Rwanda does not satisfy
Commonwealth standards",
and that it "does not therefore
qualify for admission".

Saint Kitts 19 Americas Caribbean Federal

and Nevis[B] September Commonwealth
1983 realm

Saint Lucia 22 February Americas Caribbean Unitary

1979 Commonwealth
realm

Saint Vincent 27 October Americas Caribbean Unitary A special member from 27

and the Grenadines 1979 Commonwealth October 1979 until 1 June
realm 1985.

Samoa[B] 28 August Oceania Polynesia Unitary Gained independence

1970 Westminster from New Zealand on 1
republic January 1962. Joined as
Western Samoa, subsequently
changing its name to Samoa
on 4 July 1997.

Seychelles 29 June Africa Eastern Unitary

1976 Africa presidential
republic

Sierra Leone 27 April Africa Western Unitary

1961 Africa presidential
republic

Singapore 9 August Asia South-eastern Unitary Gained independence from

1966 Asia Westminster the United Kingdom and
republic joined Federation
of Malaysia on 16 September
1963. Became independent
on 9 August 1965. While
joining in 1966, the effective
date is from its date of
independence.

Solomon 7 July 1978 Oceania Melanesia Unitary

Islands Commonwealth
realm

South Africa 19 Africa Southern Unitary Granted nominal

November Africa parliamentary independence
1926 republic with an (Dominion status) on 31 May
executive 1910. One of the original
presidency Dominions at the time of
the Balfour Declaration of
1926 and Statute of
 Westminster 1931. Left on 31
May 1961; rejoined 1 June
1994.

Sri Lanka 4 February Asia Southern Asia Unitary semi- Joined as the Dominion of
1948 presidential Ceylon, subsequently
republic changing its name in 1972.
Became a republic in 1972

Tanzania 9 December Africa Eastern Unitary Tanganyika joined the

1961 Africa presidential Commonwealth on 9
republic December 1961, with the
island of Zanzibar following
suit later. The two
subsequently merged to
form Tanzania on 26 April
1964.

Togo 25 June Africa Western Unitary The country was the formerly
2022 Africa presidential French and
republic British mandate territory
(later UN trust territory)
of Togoland after the First
World War in 1919; British
Togoland (which would be
attached to the Gold Coast in
1956 and become Ghana on 6
March 1957) and French
Togoland. Independence of
French Togoland as Togo
from France on 27 April
1960.

Tonga 4 June 1970 Oceania Polynesia Unitary constituti

onal monarchy

Trinidad and 31 August Americas Caribbean Unitary Granted independence on 31

Tobago 1962 Westminster August 1962. Became a
republic republic on 1 August 1976
under the Republic of
Trinidad and Tobago
Constitution Act 1976,
passed by the Parliament of
Trinidad and Tobago.

Tuvalu[B] 1 October Oceania Polynesia Unitary A special member from 1

1978 Commonwealth October 1978 until 1
realm September 2000.

Uganda 9 October Africa Eastern Unitary

1962 Africa presidential
republic

United 19 Europe Northern Unitary Balfour Declaration of

Kingdom November Europe Commonwealth 1926 and the Parliament of
1926 realm the United Kingdom enacted
the Statute of Westminster
1931. Has four individual
nations within the
 UK: England, Northern
Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.

Vanuatu 30 July 1980 Oceania Melanesia Unitary Gained independence from

Westminster joint rule of France and
republic the United Kingdom.

Zambia 24 October Africa Eastern Africa Unitary

1964 presidential
republic

Former members

Country Joined UN UN Left Important facts

Region Subregion

19 Europe Northern 18 April The Partition of Ireland, in 1921, caused its division into the Irish
Ireland November Europe 1949 Free State (later the Republic of Ireland) and Northern Ireland
1926 (which remained in the UK). The Irish Free State was one of the
original Dominions at the time of the Balfour Declaration of
1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931. Withdrew after passing
the Republic of Ireland Act in 1948, accepted by the United
Kingdom in the Ireland Act 1949.

1 October Africa Eastern 7 Rhodesia's Unilateral Declaration of Independence in 1965 was not
Zimbabwe 1980 Africa December recognised, but independence as Zimbabwe was recognised on 18
2003 April 1980. Suspended on 19 March 2002.[20] Withdrew voluntarily
on 7 December 2003.[56]

On 15 May 2018, President Emmerson Mnangagwa submitted an

application to rejoin the Commonwealth.[57]

Dissolved members

Former Joined UN UN Dissolved Rejoined as Notes

country Region Subregion a part of

Malaya 31 August Asia South- 16 Malaysia Reformed as the Federation

1957 eastern September of Malaysia with Singapore (became a separate
Asia 1963 member in 1965), Sabah, and Sarawak.

19 Americas Northern 31 March Canada One of the original Dominions at the time of
Newfoundland November America 1949 the Balfour Declaration of 1926 and the Statute
1926 of Westminster 1931. Government suspended
on 16 February 1934, merged into Canada on
31 March 1949.

9 Africa Eastern 26 April Tanzania Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged to form

Tanganyika December Africa 1964 the United Republic of Tanzania on 26 April
1961 1964.

Zanzibar 10
December
1963
Prospective members

Country Applied UN UN Population Important facts

Region Subregion

2009 (as Africa Eastern ~3,500,000 Somaliland is an unrecognised self-declared sovereign state
Somaliland an Africa internationally recognised as a part of Somalia. It has applied to
observer) join the Commonwealth under observer status. Its borders are
approximate to those of British Somaliland, which was a
protectorate from 1884 to 1960.

South 2011 Africa Eastern 13,670,642 Gained independence from Britain as part of Sudan in 1956.
Sudan Africa Gained independence from Sudan in 2011.

2012 Americas South 555,934 English colony of Surinam from 1650 to 1667 and again
Suriname America controlled by the British from 1799 to 1816; subsequently
a Dutch colony. In 2012, Suriname announced plans to join the
Commonwealth and the British government has made it a priority
to provide guidance to Suriname in applying for Commonwealth
membership.

2013 Africa Eastern 10,524,117 Gained independence from Belgium in 1962.

Burundi Africa

2018 Africa Eastern 16,150,362 Under the presidency of Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe dominated
Zimbabwe Africa Commonwealth affairs, creating acrimonious splits in the
organisation. Zimbabwe was suspended in 2002 for breaching
the Harare Declaration. In 2003, when the Commonwealth
refused to lift the suspension, Zimbabwe withdrew from the
Commonwealth. Since then, the Commonwealth has played a
major part in trying to end the political impasse and return
Zimbabwe to a state of normality. On 15 May 2018, President
Mnangagwa submitted an application to rejoin the
Commonwealth.
Currently, The Commonwealth of Nations currently has 56 members. Current Commonwealth members (dark blue) Overseas
territories, associated states and crown dependencies (orange) Suspended members (yellow) Former members (pink) Former
members applying to rejoin (light blue) Applicants without historical links to the UK (turquoise) Other states with historical links
to the UK (light green) Applicants with historical links to the UK (dark green).

“COMMONWEALTH REALM” and “COMMONWEALTH OF NATIONS”

"Commonwealth realm" and "Commonwealth of Nations" are closely related but refer to different aspects of the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth of Nations refers to the intergovernmental organization that includes countries from various regions around
the world. On the other hand, The Commonwealth Realm is a constitutional concept that refers to a group of countries that have
the same monarch as their head of state, but have separate governments and laws. The Commonwealth Realms are independent
countries that are connected to each other through the Crown, which is a symbolic and ceremonial institution that represents the
continuity and unity of the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Realms include countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand, and several other smaller states, such as Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica,
Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In other words, the Commonwealth of Nations is the
broader organization that includes all member states, both republics and constitutional monarchies whereas Commonwealth
realms are a subset of these member states.

Precedents and origin of the term

The Confederation of Canada on 1 July 1867 had been the birth of the "first independent country within the British Empire". She
declared: "So, it also marks the beginning of that free association of independent states which is now known as the Commonwealth
of Nations. The term first received imperial statutory recognition in the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921, when the term British
Commonwealth of Nations was substituted for British Empire.

In the Balfour Declaration at the 1926 Imperial Conference, the United Kingdom and its dominions agreed they were "equal in
status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by common allegiance
to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations". The term "Commonwealth" was officially
adopted to describe the community. These aspects to the relationship were formalized by the Statute of Westminster in 1931,
which applied to Canada without the need for ratification, but Australia, New Zealand, and Newfoundland had to ratify the statute
for it to take effect. Australia and New Zealand ratified the Statute in 1942 and 1947 respectively.

After the Second World War ended, the British Empire was gradually dismantled. Most of its components have become
independent countries, whether Commonwealth realms or republics, and members of the Commonwealth. There remain the 14
mainly self-governing British Overseas Territories which retain some political association with the United Kingdom. In April 1949,
following the London Declaration, the word "British" was dropped from the title of the Commonwealth to reflect its changing
nature.

Structure and Organization

Under the formula of the London Declaration (a declaration issued by the 1949 Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference on
the issue of India's continued membership of the Commonwealth of Nations, an association of independent states formerly part of
the British Empire, after India's transition to a republican constitution), Charles III is named as the head of the Commonwealth after
the death of Queen Elizabeth II. When the monarch dies, the successor to the crown does not automatically become the new head
of the Commonwealth. The image of a head of Commonwealth only symbolizes "the free association of independent member
nations" of the Commonwealth of Nations, an intergovernmental organization that currently comprises 56 sovereign states. The
role itself has no constitutional relevance to any of the member states within the Commonwealth. The position is symbolic,
representing the free association of independent members, [46] the majority of which (36) are republics, and five have monarchs
of different royal houses. The main decision-making forum of the organization is the biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government
Meeting (CHOGM), where Commonwealth heads of government, including (amongst others) prime ministers and presidents,
assemble for several days to discuss matters of mutual interest.

Political system

Due to their shared constitutional histories, most countries in the Commonwealth have similar legal and political systems. Most
Commonwealth countries have the bicameral Westminster system of parliamentary democracy. The Commonwealth Parliamentary
Association facilitates co-operation between legislatures across the Commonwealth, and the Commonwealth Local Government
Forum promotes good governance amongst local government officials. Most Commonwealth members use common law, modelled
on English law.

Membership and functioning

The Statute of Westminster 1931, as a fundamental founding document of the organization, laid out that membership required
dominion hood. The 1949 London Declaration ended this, allowing republican and indigenous monarchic members on the condition
that they recognized King George VI as "Head of the Commonwealth". In the wake of the wave of decolonization in the 1960s,
these constitutional principles were augmented by political, economic, and social principles. The first of these was set out in 1961,
when it was decided that respect for racial equality would be a requirement for membership. Commonwealth action is based upon
consultation between members, which is conducted through correspondence and through conversations in meetings. Each
member country sends an emissary, called a high commissioner, to the capitals of the other members.
 Politics & Competence

The objectives attributed to the Commonwealth is to be an institution of world peace; promotion of representative democracy and
individual liberty; the pursuit of equality and opposition to racism; the fight against poverty, ignorance, and disease; and free trade.
The Commonwealth's current highest-priority aims are on the promotion of democracy and development, democracy, good
governance, human rights, gender equality, and a more equitable sharing of the benefits of globalization. The areas of work include
democracy, economics, education, gender, governance, human rights, law, small states, sport, sustainability, and youth.

Culture

Commonwealth countries share a common culture in sports and literature as well as widespread similarities in their political
systems. These commonalities are the result of the Commonwealth's heritage, having developed out of the British Empire. Symbols
of the Commonwealth include the English language, the Commonwealth Flag and Commonwealth Day (the second Monday in
March). Many Commonwealth nations play similar sports that are considered British in character including cricket, football, rugby,
field hockey and netball. These ties are particularly strong between the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa
across rugby union, cricket, netball, and field hockey, with Australia in rugby league, with the Caribbean nations in cricket and
netball, and with the Indian subcontinent in cricket and hockey. Canada, by contrast, is dominated by North American sports,
including baseball instead of cricket, basketball rather than netball, ice hockey rather than field hockey and Canadian football,
rather than rugby union or league. The Commonwealth has adopted a number of symbols that represent the association of its
members. The English language is recognized as a symbol of the members' heritage; as well as being considered a symbol of the
Commonwealth, recognition of it as "the means of Commonwealth communication" is a prerequisite for Commonwealth
membership. The flag of the Commonwealth of Nations is the official flag which is used at Marlborough House, London, the
headquarters of the Commonwealth Secretariat, throughout the year.

COMMONWEALTH PERSPECTIVE IN MODERN TIMES

In recent years, some of the Commonwealth realms have begun to consider a change, especially in the former Caribbean and Pacific
colonies, where the younger ones see the Commonwealth as a colonial relic. In the 1970s, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and
Dominica no longer had the Queen as head of state, although they remained Commonwealth. Other countries followed, but until
Barbados made the decision to remove the queen as its head of state at the end of 2020, the last country to do so was Mauritius
in 1992. Even the former domains have considered changing their relationship with the Royal Family. Australia came close to doing
so in a 1999 referendum, with 45% of voters in favor of removing Queen Elizabeth as head of state. A poll conducted in February
2021 revealed that 55% of Canadians believe the British Royal Family is no longer relevant in their lives, with half saying the Queen
should stop being their head of state.