Abstract
The Commonwealth is a free association of sovereign independent states. It numbered 53 members in 2008. With a membership of l·7bn. people, it represents over 30% of the world’s population. There is no charter, treaty or constitution; the association is expressed in co-operation, consultation and mutual assistance for which the Commonwealth Secretariat is the central co-ordinating body.
Further Reading
The Cambridge History of the British Empire. 8 vols. 1929 ff.
Chan, S., Twelve Years of Commonwealth Diplomatic History: Summit Meetings, 1979–1991. 1992
Judd, D. and Slinn, P., The Evolution of the Modern Commonwealth. 1982
Keeton, G. W. (ed.) The British Commonwealth: Its Laws and Constitutions. 9 vols. 1951 ff.
Madden, F. and Fieldhouse, D., (eds.) Selected Documents on the Constitutional History of the British Empire and Commonwealth. 1994
Mansergh, N., The Commonwealth Experience. 1982
McIntyre, W. D., The Significance of the Commonwealth, 1965–90. 1991
Moore, R. J., Making the New Commonwealth. 1987
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Turner, B. (2009). Commonwealth. In: Turner, B. (eds) The Statesman’s Yearbook 2010. The Statesman’s Yearbook. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-58632-5_29
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-58632-5_29
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