Characteristics Of The Commonwealth Of Nations

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THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND FAILURES OF THE COMMONWEALTH
ORIGIN OF THE COMMONWEALTH
The Commonwealth of Nations was founded by the British Empire in 1926. It is an intergovernmental association that is made up of 53 sovereign states and consists of states which were former territories of the British empire. However, some countries such as Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Namibia are member states as a result of their link with other states rather than with the British Empire. Furthermore, countries such as Rwanda and Mozambique have never been colonies of Britain and have no cultural or historical link with the British empire and yet are members of the Commonwealth. The founding members of the Commonwealth include the United Kingdom, Newfoundland, the Union of South Africa, the Irish Free State and Canada.
The term ‘Commonwealth of Nations’ was first used to describe the relationships between Britain and her territories by Lord Rosebery in Australia in the year 1884. After the first world war, a definition depicting the relationship was sought. Finally, at the 1926 meeting, the following definition was agreed upon "They are autonomous Communities within the British Empire, equal in status, in no way subordinate one to another in any aspect of their domestic or external affairs, though united by a common allegiance to the Crown, and freely associated as members of the British Commonwealth of Nations."
The Commonwealth was initially established to sustain unity among the member states

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