Commonwealth: Inter- and Non-State Contributions to Global Governance [Paperback]

The Commonwealth consists of only a quarter of the worlds states and yet the Commonwealth Secretariat and Foundation have made and continue to make a significant contribution to global politics.

Commonwealth is a superb examination of an often neglected but crucial force in world affairs. Timothy M. Shaw;

• explains the history, structure and future of the Commonwealth
• demonstrates the central role that the Commonwealth has played in advancing decolonization and supporting multiculturalism, democracy and human rights
• details the significant links between Commonwealth institutions and myriad networks concerned with education, development, gender, health, islands, literature, media and sport
• examines the Commonwealth within the context of wider debates about global governance and globalization.

Introduction  1. Commonwealth(s)  Inter- and Non-State: How Compatible?  2. From Decolonization to Democratization: Beyond the Extended Family to Post-Imperial Nation-Building?  3. Commonwealths Today: Towards Human Development, Human Rights and Human Security?  4. Commonwealths Discourses and Directions: Pro- and/or Anti-Globalizations?  5. Commonwealths and the Competition: What Niches?  6. Commonwealths and the Future.  Appendix 1: Official Commonwealth Membership and Year of Joining.  Appendix 2: CHOGM Location, Participation and Duration, 1965-2009.  Appendix 3: Commonwealth Organizations.  Appendix 4: CHOGM Communique from Malta, 2006