Commonwealth Realm: Encyclopedia II - Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions

Commonwealth Realm - Public perceptions

Commonwealth Realm - The evolving crown

Modern proponents of the monarchy outside the United Kingdom downplay the historical "British" aspect of the monarchy, and instead focus on the Queen as Head of State of an independent nation. There has thus been a fundamental shift between the "family" aspect of the days of the British Empire, in which all dominions rallied around a common monarch, and today, in which each Commonwealth realm is encouraged to think of the Queen as "their own", and serving a role independent of any other obligations in other countries.

Commonwealth Realm - Debate on the monarchy

In recent years, there has been some debate about the continuing practice of sharing a monarch. While many seem to view the Queen's current role as Head of State with passive indifference, some see the Monarch as an apolitical unifying body, whether within their own nation, throughout the Commonwealth Realms, or both. Others still view the Queen as an obstacle to true "independence" from the United Kingdom, or to their country's status as a sovereign state. Opponents to the monarchy argue that the symbolism of the monarchy makes an independent nation look "subsidiary" to the United Kingdom, and can be confusing and anachronistic. They also point out that the Queen's role as Supreme Governor of the Church of England conflicts with the secular principles commonly espoused in their constitutions and human rights legislation, though strictly this has no relevance outside England. Proponents argue that their respective realm is already an independent kingdom where the sovereign depicted on the currency, and to whom oaths are given, is sovereign specifically of said nation. They assert that any confusion about this can be eliminated with education and argue that monarchy with its history and traditions are the basis for their national identity.

Commonwealth Realm - Republicanism

Contemporary Commonwealth Realm republican sentiment tends to be quite different in nature from the sentiment in countries which abolished the monarchy at or shortly after independence. The remaining realms have shared the Crown for much longer, in some cases over a hundred years. The debate in such countries is thus more complicated, in terms of both the political and cultural ramifications that a change to the status quo could bring. There are varying arguments by republicans in each modern Realm for the abolition of their monarchy.

• In Australia, Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating made clear his intention to make the country a republic by 2001. A referendum held in 1999 was defeated. While some attribute this defeat to lack of support for the proposed method of electing a president by Parliament, not to strength of support for the monarchy, others see it as an affirmation that Australians do not want constitutional change. The current Leader of the Opposition, Kim Beazley, has called for another referendum, but the current Prime Minister, John Howard, who favours the monarchy, has made no plans for a new referendum.
• In neighbouring New Zealand, Prime Minister Helen Clark and Jim Bolger, a previous prime minister, have also voiced their support for republicanism, and a Republican Movement has been established. Albeit, Jenny Shipley, the former Prime Minister who succeeded Bolger and preceeded Clark, opposed any moves for New Zealand to become a republic.
• There have also been doubts expressed about the future role of the monarchy in Canada with some members of the Liberal Party showing support for a republic, but there has been little sign of change in the immediate future. An organised republican movement, Citizens for a Canadian Republic, was established in 2002.
• In the Caribbean, P.J. Patterson, the Prime Minister of Jamaica, and Owen Arthur, the Prime Minister of Barbados, had tentative plans to make their countries republics, but have met resistance from opposition parties over the role and selection of a new head of state.
• Tuvalu's prime minister announced his government's intention to hold a referendum by June 2005 on whether or not that country should become a republic[1], but none was held.

Today most Realms have both a Republican Movement and a Monarchist League that serve as self-proclaimed outlets of debate in the media.

In April 2005, four republican organizations within the Commonwealth launched "Common Cause", an alliance of Commonwealth republican movements. The four member organizations include the Australian Republican Movement, Citizens for a Canadian Republic, the Republican Movement of Aotearoa New Zealand and Republic in the United Kingdom.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Public perceptions", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki