To think the Commonwealth has had its day?

[antelopevalley]

The Commonwealth is a colonialist institution based on a history of conquest and slavery.

"The origins of the Commonwealth come from Britain's former Empire. Many of the members of the Commonwealth were territories which had historically come under British rule at various times by settlement, conquest or cession. The administration of such colonies evolved in different ways, to reflect the different circumstances of each territory."
www.royal.uk/commonwealth

The Commonwealth Games have never been held in an African country. Although there have been exceptions, most years it is held in Britain, Australia, New Zealand or Canada. Since 1930 it has only been held three times in other countries. Or seven countries if you include youth games and paraplegic games.

The Commonwealth has no clear role; it confers no trade privileges upon its members, does not coordinate their defence or foreign policy, and lacks both the budget and the executive authority to make a practical difference in the world.

It is a colonialist hangover that has no clear role and should be abolished.
AIBU?

yes and it took them decades if not centuries to get there.

And yet, the countries themselves clearly think there are.

That's why very few have chosen to leave, and some countries with no links to the British empire have chosen to join.

Or you know better than the people of these countries what's good for them? Sounds a tad colonial to me.

The Commonwealth games gives opportunities to athletes that miss out ofvopportunities in other competitions. The Barbadians don't have to love the Commonwealth to compete. They don't even have to love or live in Barbados. It's just a competition. I should think, just like the vast majority of people in this country, they don't give the Commonwealth much thought in their day to day lives.

Only two countries have left the commonwealth and not rejoined. Ireland in the 1940s. And Zimbabwe because it had been suspended. Zimbabwe has already applied to rejoin. Countries, including India and Pakistan, have left but all have applied to rejoin. The last country to leave was the Maldives which left around 2015 but it has now rejoined. Do you think the leaders of the these countries, who experience the Commonwealth and see the benefits themselves know less than you? Do you think these countries are too stupid to know what's best for them. Sounds a bit racist to me. Briton knows better than them.

A third of the world's population lives in the Commonwealth. It's a big club that small island countries want to be part of because it gives them access to and equality with the big players in the world's trading and political spheres.

So that's an excuse not to start the process? Maybe get it done quicker? No logic there.

We'll surely they can decide that as a country. It's not for us to decide.

The same way it wasn't for the EU to decide if we remained with them or not.

We have to accept (or you do!) that these countries choose to be part of the commonwealth because they decide it's in their best interests. Why do you think they aren't capable of making those decisions for themselves?

Typical woke bullshit, mixed in with a hint of white saviour complex. Spouting off about a supposedly racist institution without knowing anything about it or why it might be beneficial to individual nations within the commonwealth.

If you look on the website at what they do - it doesn’t sound so bad. thecommonwealth.org/our-work/trade-and-economy
Trade advisors to improve export capabilities and fund to guarantee loans for import of good at competitive prices - for small nations (which many nations in commonwealth are).

I mean fair enough if Barbados and Jamaica see their future away from the commonwealth - if their people want that, then that’s the right thing for them. But on the whole I think some small countries do benefit; and I think U.K. can also learn from other commonwealth countries too.

Dubious morals?

www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-launches-major-trade-initiatives-to-capitalise-on-commonwealth-advantage

That would have more credibility if the very same Govt hadn't put in place barriers to EU trade, with a bloc that dwarfs the CW.

Desperate.

@Carpy88999 The moment someone attacks with "Woke" you know full well they have no argument and read the 'express.

They still might. What makes you think that they won’t? They only binned off QE2 in November after all. They might have some good reasons for staying but those reasons are unlikely to include:

• membership of a loose association of nations that were once part of the British empire.
• a strong regard for the monarch at the head of the commonwealth.
• ’friendship’ with other nations who happen to be members of the same commonwealth. I’m sure that Barbados is quite capable of forming diplomatic alliances with or without commonwealth membership.
• nostalgia for the past.
• a love of British culture.

which are the things that define the commonwealth. They might decide that their interests are better served by joining something else!

One member did, Barbados, and we know how they voted. What do you suppose the result would be if every member held a referendum?

Barbados didn’t have a referendum. The Barbados government made the decision to remove the Queen.

Don’t let the gammons and Brexit types hear you utter any of this. YANBU OP

Well that's a well founded argument!

Yes, the elected government. Whose manifesto probably included waving goodbye to the queen as head of state. They were, after all, elected by people who are descended from slaves. The British royal family have done rather well from the slave trade over the years, starting with Elizabeth I, so it’s hardly a surprise that the Barbadians might not think kindly of the RF. Rather like the Jamaicans, who appear to think similarly.

If the people had felt aggrieved by the decision, there would have been widespread protests and the government would have fallen. There were not, and it didn’t.

Do you think the leaders of the these countries, who experience the Commonwealth and see the benefits themselves know less than you? Do you think these countries are too stupid to know what's best for them. Sounds a bit racist to me. Briton knows better than them.

Normally I loathe people jumping to ‘isms’ but I actually agree with this - there’s something off at people who are making assumptions about the decision making skills of certain countries

I think OP should just admit she got confused with the British Empire and we can all be on our merry way.

He hired a woman’s womb in order to have children. Then barely mentioned her throughout the ’we are having a baby’ and birth announcements. I don’t like men who use women as commodities and then pretend they don’t exist

They still might. What makes you think that they won’t?

Because they haven’t, when they literally leave tomorrow if they wanted to.

you say that like its like pressing a button. there are people in those countries fighting for their rights

I'm neither.

Your statement says more about you.

Can you provide evidence that those things ‘define the commonwealth’ or is it just a guess?

They still might. What makes you think that they won’t?

Because they've given zero indication that they intend to.

And because, if recent history is anything to go by, very few countries choose to leave the Commonwealth. The majority of Commonwealth countries do not have the British monarch as HoS, and haven't had for years. So becoming a republic does not at all imply a desire to leave the Commonwealth, however much you wish it were so.

In which case it’s understandable to remove the Queen as their HoS however being royalists is not a requirement of Commonwealth membership

Only two countries have left the commonwealth and not rejoined. Ireland in the 1940s

There were a number of Irish atheletes that have competed for Ireland in recent years, that wanted to compete for NI in Birmingham and got special dispensation from the sporting federation to do so