Written by a senior Indian diplomat who has until recently also served as Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, this book provides a unique and far-reaching exploration of the British Commonwealth, and its impact since the second World War on the process of Britain adjusting to a world without Empire. Whither the Commonwealth now? What is its record of achievement; what are the benefits of membership to countries in terms of collective political influence, trade, investment, aid, travel and education? Can any practical good be envisaged for this nearly moribund post-colonial organization? Britain, which brought the association into being and is central to it, would have to play a key part in determining its future. But in coming to such decisions, the British Government faces great problems of perception, both from the Monarchy and the British public.

Autorentext
KRISHNAN SRINIVASAN is a former senior Indian diplomat (Foreign Secretary, i.e., permanent secretary), and former Commonwealth deputy Secretary-General, a Visiting Fellow of Wolfson College, Cambridge, Visiting Fellow at the Centre for International Studies, Cambridge, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University, UK.

PETER LYON is Reader Emeritus in International Relations and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. He is Editor of The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.

Inhalt
List of Abbreviations Acknowledgements Foreword Introduction PART 1: THE NEHRU COMMONWEALTH The Immediate Post-War Period India and Pakistan Burma Ceylon Malaya Britain, the Commonwealth and Asian Independence Defence The United States of America and Empire The West Indies Federation The Suez Crisis and Its Aftermath The Middle East and Cyprus PART 2: THE AFRICAN COMMONWEALTH British Africa South Africa The Central African Federation and Rhodesia Britain, the Commonwealth and Independent Africa Economic Matters Britain's Entry to the EEC Immigration and Citizenship PART 3: SOME OTHER 'COMMONWEALTHS' The OIF, the CPLP, the OEI and the Dutch PART 4: NOBODY'S COMMONWEALTH? The Position of the Crown Domestic and Public Opinion Media Comments through the Years Knowledge of the Modern Commonwealth The House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee Report, 1995-96 The 'Commonwealth Factor' in Trade and Economic Relations A New Agenda for the Old Commonwealth The Commonwealth Today - and Tomorrow Notes Bibliography Index