The Commonwealth evolved from the meetings between Britain and the self-governing dominions of Australia, Canada, South Africa, and New Zealand during and after the First World War. The Statute of Westminster, 1931, confirmed the dominions' status as quasi-sovereign states, bound together voluntarily by the British Crown. During the Second World War the dominions assumed the powers of sovereign states (they, rather than Britain, declared war on Germany, and the dominion of Ireland decided to remain neutral). In 1947 India, Pakistan, and Ceylon became dominions and members of the Commonwealth, Burma chose not to join on gaining independence in 1948, and in 1949 Ireland left the Commonwealth.
The Commonwealth is dominated numerically by poor states in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Pacific who joined on obtaining independence. Dependencies such as the Falklands are not members. Namibia, which was formerly ruled by South Africa, chose to become a member in 1990. Four states have left: Ireland, South Africa in 1961 (though it rejoined in 1994), and Fiji in 1987. Pakistan left in 1972 but subsequently rejoined.
In 1965 a small secretariat was established. Heads of government meet biennially to discuss a broad agenda, and other ministers also meet regularly. In the 1980s the Commonwealth's agenda was dominated by apartheid, and, on the issue of sanctions against South Africa, Britain was frequently in an awkward minority of one. However, the Commonwealth operates by consensus and persuasion, rather than by binding vote. About 70 per cent of Britain's state-to-state development aid continues to go to Commonwealth states. The organization also serves as a useful consultative mechanism for its members, but its significance in foreign and economic policies of its members, including Britain, is gently subsiding.
— Peter Byrd
