The Commonwealth Conversation

It is 60 years since the modern Commonwealth was born. From the ashes of Empire grew a free and equal association of states, linked by shared heritage and committed to promoting democracy, development and diversity. Since its remarkable beginnings, the Commonwealth has grown to include 54 members and almost a third of the world’s population. No other international association can boast such a diverse membership of big and small, rich and poor countries. The Commonwealth undertakes valuable work to promote peace, democracy, the rule of law and human rights, and to support public sector, economic, human and environmentally sustainable development.

Yet, in a crowded marketplace of international organisations, the Commonwealth sometimes struggles to make its voice heard. As our poll results show, in some member countries, awareness of the association and its work is at an all time low. The Commonwealth must continue to ensure that it remains relevant to all its member governments, and connected to all its diverse peoples.

The Commonwealth’s 60th birthday in 2009 and the November CHOGM in Trinidad & Tobago offered the perfect opportunity for the association to listen to the views of its people and to assess how it can add value to the international community for years to come. In order to hold a global dialogue with as many citizens as possible about the future of their association, the RCS launched the Commonwealth Conversation in July 2009.

• What are the aims of the Commonwealth Conversation?
• What is the topic of conversation?
• Who can get involved and how?
• Who will my views influence and how?
• When will we see results?