Redefining the bonds of commonwealth, 1939-1948

the long version

"Redefining the Bonds of Commonwealth, 1939-1948 examines the evolution of the Commonwealth in response to the emergence of Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa as independent actors in international affairs. McKenzie argues that the dominions' constitutional independence was meaningless unless it was concretely established and internationally acknowledged. How the dominions entrenched their independence, redefining the scope and purpose of the Commonwealth in the process, is at the heart of this study. The complexity and dynamic of Anglo-dominion relations is revealed through the story of imperial preference, the largest discriminatory tariff system in the world in the 1940s and potent symbol of Commonwealth unity. As part of their commitment to rebuilding a postwar world free of the economic chauvinism and discrimination that bred major conflicts, Britain and the dominions defined policies on preferences, in so doing revealing conflicting ideas of and hopes for the Commonwealth. Renegotiating the mandate and precedents of Commonwealth cooperation and association would determine whether the Commonwealth would survive World War II as surely as would winning the war."--BOOK JACKET.