Commonwealth
Nations sharing history
The Commonwealth, or Commonwealth of Nations, is a voluntary association of countries, most of which were formerly part of the British Empire.
Member states share historical ties to Britain but are independent and equal: Australia and Canada are Commonwealth members.
The term also appears in proper names of specific political entities: the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the Commonwealth of Independent States. (Lowercase commonwealth is a general term for a political community.)
Southern Hemisphere continent-country
- CanadaNorthern North American nation
- IndiaSouth Asian republic
- NigeriaWest African federal republic
- JamaicaCaribbean island nation
South Africa · Singapore · Kenya · Malaysia · Pakistan · Ghana · New Zealand · Trinidad
Union of semi-autonomous states
- republicState with elected leaders
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- democracyRule by the people
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
self-governance · autonomy · legislature · bicameral · unicameral · Westminster · head of state · monarchy
Domination through foreign settlement
- dominionAuthority to rule
- British RajImperial rule over India
- territoriesAreas under jurisdiction
- protectorateGuarded semi-autonomous territory
raj · Victoria · East India Company · sovereignty · annexation · rule · administration · governance
Mid-Atlantic American state
- MassachusettsNortheastern colonial state
- PennsylvaniaNortheastern founding colony state
- KentuckyBluegrass State
- Puerto RicoAmerican Caribbean territory
state · territory · designation · jurisdiction · statehood
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
- multilateralInvolving multiple parties
protocol · foreign policy · accord · envoy · secretary-general · charter · cooperation · partnership
Coexistence of diverse traditions
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- cosmopolitanCulturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
- integrationCombining into a whole
coexistence · mosaic · multilingual · cross-cultural · diaspora · heritage · lingua franca · cultural exchange
Australia
Southern Hemisphere continent-country
Jamaica · South Africa · Singapore · Kenya · Malaysia · Pakistan · Ghana · New Zealand · Trinidad · Cyprus
federation
Union of semi-autonomous states
- republicState with elected leaders
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
- democracyRule by the people
constitution · self-governance · autonomy · legislature · bicameral · unicameral · Westminster · head of state · monarchy · constitutional
colonialism
Domination through foreign settlement
- dominionAuthority to rule
- British RajImperial rule over India
- territoriesAreas under jurisdiction
protectorate · raj · Victoria · East India Company · sovereignty · annexation · rule · administration · governance · colonies
Virginia
Mid-Atlantic American state
- MassachusettsNortheastern colonial state
- PennsylvaniaNortheastern founding colony state
- KentuckyBluegrass State
Puerto Rico · state · territory · designation · jurisdiction · statehood
summit
Peak or diplomatic gathering
- ambassadorOfficial foreign representative
- treatyBinding pact between nations
- delegationTransferring responsibility downward
multilateral · protocol · foreign policy · accord · envoy · secretary-general · charter · cooperation · partnership · bilateral
multiculturalism
Coexistence of diverse traditions
- pluralismCoexistence of differing views
- inclusivityPractice of welcoming all
- cosmopolitanCulturally sophisticated, internationally fluent
integration · coexistence · mosaic · multilingual · cross-cultural · diaspora · heritage · lingua franca · cultural exchange · shared history
- Australian HistoryCaptain Cook, federation, explorers, Liberal Party, Tobruk
- Regional BlocsEU, European Union, ASEAN, African Union, NAFTA
- BritainEngland, Wales, Scotland, London, Northern Ireland
- Eastern EuropePoland, Hungary, Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria
- International BodiesUN, United Nations, EU, European Union, NATO
- WWII AlliesAllied Powers, United States, United Kingdom, Britain, France
Commonwealthempire
Domain under unified control
autocracy · tyranny · dictatorship · despotism · absolute monarchy
Commonwealthprivate wealth
Individually owned financial resources
kleptocracy · oligarchy · plutocracy · private property · feudal estate
Commonwealthempire
Domain under unified control
colonial empire · colony · dominion · vassal state · protectorate
- Commonwealth GamesMulti-sport event for British-linked nations
- Commonwealth BankAustralian banking giant
- Commonwealth of NationsPost-imperial voluntary alliance
- the commonwealthAssociation of sovereign nations
- British CommonwealthPost-imperial voluntary association