If group ‘didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be necessary to invent it’
In this occasional feature, the National Post tells you everything you need to know about a complicated issue. Today, Jen Gerson explains the Commonwealth in the wake of Stephen Harper’s decision to boycott an upcoming leaders’ meeting in Sri Lanka becaus
A What is the Commonwealth exactly? Q The commonwealth is a voluntary coalition of 54 states representing a global population of 2.2 billion people that ostensibly share a set of common values and ideals. Gambia’s defection last week — its president called it a “neo-colonial institution” — will reduce it to 53 nations. Most members have a historic relationship with the british empire. Originally a “british commonwealth of Nations,” the commonwealth is an acknowledgement of a shared history and traditional trade links between member states. The relationship is acknowledged every four years with the commonwealth Games, and every two years with meetings of political leaders. Although Australia, britain and canada have the most economic and political clout, the commonwealth differs from the uN in that each member state is considered equal. Q How did that come to be? A canada actually joined the british commonwealth as an independent state in 1931, but the modern organization as it exists today came to be in 1949 with the London declaration. Several years after India voted to become an independent republic, the commonwealth was expanded to allow for sovereign nations not directly under the control of the british monarchy. Most commonwealth states maintain some formal or informal tie to britain, however the commonwealth has also expanded to include independent countries such as rwanda and Mozambique, which do not have historic ties to the british empire. In March, Queen elizabeth II signed the commonwealth charter, which acknowledged 16 core values of commonwealth countries, including democracy, human rights, freedom of expression and freedom from discrimination. “If the commonwealth didn’t exist, it wouldn’t be necessary to invent it,” acknowledged James Mayall, emeritus Fellow in International relations at Sidney Sussex college at the university of cambridge. “It’s a bit of an historical anomaly, in a way.” Q How can the Commonwealth be a coalition of nations with similar values if it includes Sri Lanka and other member states with poor records of human rights abuses? A The charter is more of an aspirational document. The commonwealth is really a diplomatic coalition. ‘‘canadians are being very brave going ahead of the mob,” Mr. Mayall said. However, “this is also a diplomatic association and so it raises the question, as in all such things, what good is done by, as it were, moral posturing when you can’t actually do anything?” Sri Lanka may not live by the ideals set out by the commonwealth charter, but participation in the group might do more good than outright boycotts, the professor suggested. For its part, the Sri Lankan government in colombo has suggested canada is merely pandering to domestic audiences by taking such a stand. Sri Lanka’s minister of external affairs, Gamini Lakshman Peiris, has reportedly condemned canada’s attempts to “politicize the commonwealth.” Q Does that mean the Commonwealth is powerless? A unlike the united Nations, the commonwealth does not possess any way to sanction misbehaving member states by force. However, Mr. Mayall said it can be a powerful diplomatic force. during a commonwealth summit in Vancouver in the late 1980s, for example, Australia and canada joined with smaller nations to effectively gang up on british prime minister Margaret Thatcher’s reluctance to place economic sanctions on Apartheid South Africa. “Thatcher, in Vancouver, found herself totally isolated for the first time from the old dominions,” he said. “That pincer movement worked quite effectively; Thatcher was able to bring more pressure to bear on the South African apartheid government to modify their position.” The weight of global opinion was turning against South Africa at that point, he said, but “the timing was important.” The commonwealth’s structure also ensures that smaller states get a say in international politics and, Mr. Mayall added, canada has been quite diligent in advocating for the needs of smaller nations. Q So, what does Canada get out of being a part of this, anyway?
A “you have to think reputationally,” Mr. Mayall said. “If you use the current international diplomatic jargon, you would say it’s a very good vehicle for soft power.” The commonwealth gives canada access and influence in diplomatic circles for a relatively small cost. The organization also allows canada to chart a course independent of the united States, he added.