The Commonwealth Can Do More with Greater Support

Describing the Commonwealth as "a big idea, a valuable brand, a creative force" - Richard Bourne.

The economic rise of Asia in recent years, and the progress in development of other member countries of the Commonwealth, is changing the balance of power, said Richard Bourne, Head of the Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit, Institute of Commonwealth Studies, in a valedictory speech on 14 July 2005. The theme of his speech delivered at the Commonwealth Club was 'A Commonwealth of Ideas: Thoughts from the Think-Tank'.

Mr Bourne argued that a change in the power balance should translate into greater contributions to the Commonwealth and the Secretariat, including increased resources and financial support to carry out development programmes: "The budget formula for government subscriptions is overdue for reform," he said.

Describing the Commonwealth as "a big idea, a valuable brand, a creative force", Mr Bourne said the challenge for the association was to inspire its citizens, particularly the young people, by engaging them with new ideas and values. He said that by promoting an issue that was relevant and meaningful for the Commonwealth, the association could help to rally its citizens in the way it had built support for the anti-apartheid struggle in the 1980s, and for democratisation and human rights in the 1990s.

Mr Bourne highlighted climate change, migration, and development and democracy as issues which the Commonwealth could focus on in the next decade. He drew attention to how climate change had affected small island states as well as the coastlines of larger member countries, causing floods and the destruction of beaches and the marine environment. Meanwhile, globalisation and the freer movement of capital and labour were having an impact on the economies of member countries. In the sphere of development and democracy, he said the Commonwealth had helped countries such as Sierra Leone, Mozambique, South Africa and Solomon Islands to recover from their troubled pasts. However, he thought the Commonwealth could further strengthen its skills in conflict resolution and the promotion of good practices in governance, democracy and the rule of law.

Mr Bourne said the pool of intelligent and talented people within the Commonwealth "is enormous and undervalued" and that the Commonwealth should continue adapting itself to the needs of its people and engaging them on issues of common interest.

Related Websites:

• Commonwealth Policy Studies Unit