The Rise, Decline and Future of the British Commonwealth

Written by a senior Indian diplomat who until recently also served as Commonwealth Deputy Secretary-General, this book provides a unique and far-reaching exploration of the British Commonwealth and its impact since the second World War on the process of Britain adjusting to a world without Empire. What is its record of achievement? What are the benefits of membership to countries in terms of collective political influence, trade, investment, aid, travel and education? Can any practical good be gotten from this post-colonial organization? Britain, which brought the association into being and is central to it, would have to play a key part in determining its future. But in coming to such decisions, the British Government faces great problems of perception, both from the Monarchy and the British public.

Krishnan Srinivasan is a former senior Indian diplomat, and a Visiting Fellow of Wolfson College, and the Centre for International Studies, Cambridge, and a Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, London University. Peter Lyon is Reader Emeritus in International Relations and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute of Commonwealth Studies, University of London. He is Editor of The Round Table: The Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs.