The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth

The Commonwealth is a voluntary association of 56 independent and equal countries. It is home to 2.5 billion people, and includes both advanced economies and developing countries. 33 of our members are small states, including many island nations. Our member governments have agreed to shared goals like development, democracy and peace. Our values and principles are expressed in the Commonwealth Charter.

The Commonwealth Secretariat is the intergovernmental organisation that supports member countries to achieve the Commonwealth’s aims of development, democracy and peace. It publishes authoritative, evidence-based research and knowledge products for policymakers, academics, professionals and wider publics across the world. Our areas of focus and expertise include small and developing states; environment and climate change; democracy, law and government; and social issues concerning young people, gender, health and education.

Macroeconomic Policy Frameworks of Small States

Gérard Adonis

This book reviews the implementation of macroeconomic policies in Malta, identifying the key issues, lessons learnt and best practices which could be adapted by other small states. It also sets out the country's challenges for the future, including attending to the conflicting demands of environmental conservation and economic development.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290630
  • Publication Date: Sep 2011
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Social Policies in Seychelles

Liam Campling

This book provides comprehensive analysis of social policy development in Seychelles, focusing on the political and economic developments that have led to the current situation. The challenge now is to maintain current levels of social policy interventions in the face of severe indebtedness and the stagnation of economic growth.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290654
  • Publication Date: Dec 2011
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Zambia General Elections, 20 September 2011

The Report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for the Zambia General Elections. The Group was led by former Nigeria Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon, and comprised 12 eminent persons in total.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290753
  • Publication Date: Jan 2012
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Social Policies in Solomon Islands and Vanuatu

Biman Chand Prasad

Solomon Islands and Vanuatu are two small states that have struggled to develop successful social policies since independence. This study traces their social histories and examines factors that have hindered progress. Future development requires a move away from traditional social structures and a focus on political stability and economic growth.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290838
  • Publication Date: Jul 2012
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Guidebook to Education in the Commonwealth

Guidebook showcasing successful, innovative education initiatives to help meet the MDGs and Education for All targets from around the Commonwealth, in a concise and easy-to-use format. Provides policy-makers with examples of solutions that will assist them in devising strategies to counter their own educational challenges.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290845
  • Publication Date: Aug 2012
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Education for Sustainable Development in Small Island Developing States

Matthew Hiebert

This study analyses good practices and gaps in education for sustainable development (ESD) implementation in ten small island states vulnerable to climate change. It provides practical and realistic recommendations on how ESD may be better integrated in education policy and strategy and delivered more comprehensively.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290906
  • Publication Date: Feb 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

New Century Local Government

Graham Sansom

This collection of papers shows how the role of local government is evolving throughout the Commonwealth and provides practical examples of new local government at work. It showcases emerging practice, and highlights success stories from new ways of working and challenges confronting local government in both developed and developing countries.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849290937
  • Publication Date: Sep 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Assessing Aid for Trade

Dirk Willem te Velde

Aid for Trade has been an integral part of ODA since the WTO 2005 Ministerial. This volume of 16 papers provides a comprehensive review of the AfT initiative, examining effectiveness, current issues and future directions including an alternative way to improve trade for developing countries from Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stigliz.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291064
  • Publication Date: Nov 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

The Impact of Women's Political Leadership on Democracy and Development

Farah Deeba Chowdhury

Describes barriers to women's political participation and explains why women's inclusion is crucial to democracy. It identifies strategies – electoral reform (New Zealand), party voluntary quotas (South Africa), and legislative quotas (Bangladesh and India) – that have helped to advance the participation of women in decision-making at all levels.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291095
  • Publication Date: Dec 2013
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers in Developing Countries

Munawwar Alam

This research study examines different approaches to intergovernmental transfers (ICTs) in developing countries in the Commonwealth, and assesses their relative strengths and weaknesses. It includes detailed case studies of India and Kenya, lessons learned from IGT systems in Australia and the United Kingdom.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291170
  • Publication Date: Jul 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Istanbul Programme of Action for the LDCs (2011-2020)

LDC IV Monitor's first reports provide an independent assessment of the status of the Istanbul Programme of Action for the Least Developed Countries (IPoA). They aim to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the implementation of the IPoA leading towards the graduation of the least developed countries (LDCs).

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291200
  • Publication Date: Oct 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Regional Integration in South Asia

Mohammad A. Razzaque

This volume presents an objective assessment of trade and economic co-operation among South Asian nations and highlights policy issues to foster regional integration. It presents insightful perspectives on potential new areas of co-operation, emerging challenges, and country-specific views on regional and bilateral trade co-operation issues.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291224
  • Publication Date: Nov 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Small States

This unique annual collection of key economic and statistical data on states with fewer than 5 million inhabitants is an essential reference for economists, planners and policy-makers working on issues of concern to small states. Contains 65 tables covering development indicators and an article focusing on the role of data and statistics.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291255
  • Publication Date: Jun 2014
  • Availability: Temporarily out of stock: Usually despatched in 14-18 days

Maldives Presidential Elections, 7 September, 9 November and 16 November 2013

The report of the Commonwealth Observer Group for Maldives's presidential election held on 7 September, the re-run election held on 9 November, and the run-off election held on 16 November 2013. The Group was chaired by Dr Lawrence Gonzi, former Prime Minister of Malta, and was comprised of 17 members in total.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291262
  • Publication Date: Feb 2014
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Global Youth Development Index and Report 2016

The Commonwealth's 2016 Global Youth Development Index and Report is an overview of the development of young people (aged 15 -30) in 183 countries, including 49 Commonwealth countries. It analyses 18 indicators across five domains -- education, health and well-being, employment and opportunity, political participation and civic participation.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291590
  • Publication Date: Oct 2016
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days

Future Fragmentation Processes

Jodie Keane

This publication provides a careful examination of global value chains (GVCs) within which Commonwealth members countries specialise at the sectoral level: manufacturing, services and commodity trade, including within the realm of the oceans economy, and reflects on future fragmentation processes.

  • Format: Paperback
  • ISBN: 9781849291668
  • Publication Date: Aug 2017
  • Availability: In Stock - Despatched Within 5 Working Days