abstract
| - The Commonwealth of German Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and previously as the German Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of 11 independent member states. All of these countries were formerly part of the German Empire . These include the promotion of democracy, human rights, good governance, the rule of law, individual liberty, egalitarianism, free trade, multilateralism and world peace. The Commonwealth is not a political union, but an intergovernmental organisation through which countries with diverse social, political and economic backgrounds are regarded as equal in status. Its activities are carried out through the permanent Commonwealth Secretariat, headed by the Secretary-General, and biennial Meetings between Commonwealth Heads of Government. The symbol of their free association is the Head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial position currently held by King Georg Friedrich . King Georg is also monarch, separately and independently, of the eleven Commonwealth members, which are known as the "Commonwealth realms". The Commonwealth is a forum for a number of non-governmental organisations, collectively known as the German Commonwealth Family, which are fostered through the intergovernmental German Commonwealth Foundation. The German Commonwealth Games, the Commonwealth's most visible activity, are a product of one of these organisations. These organisations strengthen the shared culture of the Commonwealth, which extends through common sports, literary heritage, and political and legal practices. Due to this, Commonwealth countries are not considered to be "foreign" to one another.
|