Discussions of the Commonwealth often fixate on history.
It's easy to see why -- after all, today's modern Commonwealth has its roots in the dying days of the British Empire, a transformation as remarkable as it is misunderstood.
However, these historical foundations often obscure the practical ties which bind the modern Commonwealth. A geographically disparate club of 56 nations, some of which were never ruled by the British, may appear to have little in common. What common threads could possibly bind Jamaica to Malaysia, and Malaysia to Lesotho?
Scratch below the surface, and one finds a vibrant network of connections.
The Commonwealth plays host to around 700 million English speakers, and in most of its member states, English retains a special role as the language of politics and commerce.
Commonwealth nations also share many of the same governance structures -- most of its member states use the common law in at least part of their legal system, and a majority share the Westminster parliamentary system.
Just as potent is the role of sport. The clearest example is the quadrennial Commonwealth Games, next slated for Australia in 2026, but that's just the beginning. From the rugby pitches of the Pacific to the cricket fields of South Asia, Commonwealth citizens revel -- and excel -- in their sporting ties.
But the Commonwealth is much more than soft power and cultural diplomacy. These underlying commonalities shape perspectives on key global issues. In the fast-changing world of the 21st century, the old club has been imbued with new, practical purpose.
China's rapid rise has captured the attention of the world and has brought into sharp focus the competitive rigour of a globalized world. More and more, at international forums and in their bilateral relationships, states are being asked to choose between Washington, Beijing, Brussels, and Moscow.
At a time when states risk being caught in the crossfire of great power conflict, the Commonwealth is an increasingly attractive safe harbour. It is the perfect bridge between global north and global south, tying together like-minded states who value their national sovereignty and reject bloc politics.
More than any other international organization, it offers developing states, whatever their size or shape, an equal platform with their developed counterparts.
Nowhere is this position as a connective “safe harbour” more important than on trade.
The American Inflation Reduction Act, passed earlier this year, seeks to onshore key industry to the US and its close allies. The European Commission's Net Zero Industry Act follows the same pattern, just as Beijing has used Covid-19 to withdraw from international markets. The world's economic powerhouses are, more and more, closed for business.
The system of fair, open multilateral trade that lifted millions out of poverty in the late 20th century can no longer be taken for granted. We must make a new case, boldly and directly, for an open international system that promotes free-flowing capital and fair competition.
Pragmatically, such an open system is in Bangladesh's interests. All credible predictions suggest that Bangladesh will be one of the world's largest economies in the coming decades and will enjoy an outsized position as one of the world's major exporters. Africa's fast-growing population will need Bangladeshi clothing; Bangladeshi businesses will want British capital to scale up and expand out.
The Commonwealth is the ideal platform for this new argument. The English language ties that allow Commonwealth citizens to communicate with one another also have practical benefits -- according to economist Pankaj Ghemawat, countries that share a language trade 42% more with each other than they otherwise would. Trade between Commonwealth businesses is 21% cheaper on average, and disputes are settled 21% faster.
More than that, it is home to the states who will shape the global landscape in the decades to come. Half of the top 20 emerging global cities are within the Commonwealth, and the bloc boasts around a quarter of global growth.
From Singapore to India, Britain to Bangladesh, Commonwealth states are the ones opening up, exploring what the global market has to offer, and looking to reap the potential of a fair, open international system. This vibrant group must learn to speak with one voice.
Trade isn't the only area of common interest. Commonwealth states are united on the need for reform of international institutions, and on the need to address climate change. More and more, wherever one looks, they find that the Commonwealth still makes practical sense. The real world once again confounds the pontificating of the detractors.
The Commonwealth is a far more coherent bloc than many of its detractors would have you believe. It stands up today as an attractive place for nations wary of the global giants and keen to reassert their sovereignty.
Realizing this potential to the fullest should be a focus for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a pivot which could deliver significant benefits for Bangladeshis -- and bolster our international system in the process.
Sam Bidwell is the founder and Director of the Centre for Commonwealth Affairs, a London-based think-tank.
