The Commonwealth: Disillusionment, Detachment and Rediscovery

Abstract

As decolonization accelerated, the Commonwealth was forced to catch up. During the race, however, British reluctance raised caution signs all along the way. As ever, virtue was always made of necessity, and change was presented publicly with a positive ring. But there was growing disillusionment in Britain about the Commonwealth just at the very moment when the association was evolving into a multilateral international organization with a momentum of its own.