The Modern Commonwealth
back to first page |
p.2 |
p.3 |
p.4
The colonies become independent
Six more countries in Africa - Botswana, Lesotho, Mauritius, Malawi, Swaziland and Zambia - achieved independence in the 1960s. By 1970 most of the larger Caribbean islands were independent, as well as British Guiana (now Guyana). Malaya (later Malaysia) had become independent in 1957 and Singapore, Cyprus and Malta soon followed suit.
In the 1970s, it was the turn of smaller Caribbean islands and countries in the South Pacific to become independent of British rule. A few small territories, such as Bermuda and the Falkland Islands, chose to remain British colonies.
Remarkably, most of these independent countries chose to join the Commonwealth. This was something new – an empire replaced by a voluntary association of states which are all regarded as equal. In this association, Britain was just one of the members – it had no special rights, privileges or responsibilities. Yet it was because of the shared history and language that Commonwealth leaders were able to talk to each other in a frank and informal way.
Two African countries caused problems in the Commonwealth in the 1970s and 1980s. The racist policies of the minority white governments of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe) and South Africa were strongly opposed by most members of the Commonwealth. This difficult time came to an end when democratically elected governments came to power in Zimbabwe (1980) and South Africa (1994).
back to first page |
p.2 |
p.3 |
p.4
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
882878
