A message from the Chair
Officially the centenary of The Round Table journal (started in the Edwardian era) does not start until 2010. But our preparations, as you can see from our website, are running on apace.
And I thought it would be good to provide a monthly update for readers and supporters of our journal, starting in July 2009 after my re-election for a final year as Chair of the editorial advisory board, (known since the early twentieth century as the Moot).
Richard Bourne
View the messages by selecting any of the links below:
October 2009
Last month I mentioned that the Commonwealth's biennial cycle was ripening up in anticipation of the leaders' summit in Trinidad and Tobago at the end of November (27-29 November to be exact). For an association that gets little publicity, this summit, with all its appurtenances, is an extraordinarily large-scale affair.
As well as the meeting of leaders there is a business forum, a youth forum, a people's forum and, extending popular involvement to the Savannah in Port of Spain, a people's space for workshops, exhibitions and cultural events. With media as well it means that a cast of thousands will descend on this small capital city - although the participation in the people's forum is down by two thirds, compared with 1500 or so who took part in Kampala in 2007.
Does this mean that there is real interaction between the presidents and prime ministers and all these others with interests in the Commonwealth? Not really. Does it mean that citizens of a country which hosts a summit get a flavour of this international grouping to which they belong - beyond having to put up with traffic jams and enhanced security? Only to some degree.
While a few presidents attend the business forum, and leaders receive a message from the youth forum with the deferential disinterest that age shows to youth, the greatest disappointment lies in wait for civil society. Marshalled by the Commonwealth Foundation, with eight "assemblies" this year on topics ranging from the environment to human rights, their timetable means that their statement reaches governments too late to have much influence over the summit communiqué. Individuals may have a chance to see ministers at a reception given by the Commonwealth Secretary-General. But in reality the civil society organisations will spend most time talking to each other.
Citizens of Trinidad and Tobago will see a lot about the Commonwealth Heads on television, including what should be an exciting opening ceremony on Friday, 27 November. Organisers hope that many will come along to the people's space on the Savannah. That gallant Round Tabler, Tim Shaw, Director of the Institute of International Relations at St Augustines, will be running a three day conference on Commonwealth issues alongside the people's forum.
But it is high time that enthusiasts assessed what more can be done to use the biennial summits, like the four yearly Commonwealth Games, for public education about the Commonwealth.
Richard Bourne