The Commonwealth Nations Research Society (CNRS) was born at the beginning of this month.
The Commonwealth Nations Research Society (CNRS) is a non-lobbying and non-profit organisation which educates and promotes a closer, wider and stronger Commonwealth.
The CNRS was founded by the former United Commonwealth Society (UCS) President, Vice President, and a few other UCS members. The mission of the new society is to foster closer bonds between current Commonwealth states, especially the UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand; to foster a wider Commonwealth by attracting non-Commonwealth states and nations; and to foster a stronger Commonwealth by educating about Commonwealth history and culture.
Part of the CNRS mission is also to do research and produce reports and recommendations on policy proposals. The results of the first research produced by the CNRS show that South Korea is an excellent candidate for Commonwealth membership, while Japan is less so. Taiwan also has excellent numbers (not a sovereign state), while China's (a sovereign state) numbers are only slightly better than Papua New Guinea, Ghana, and the Dominican Republic. This research shows that, all things being equal, the wealthiest country isn't necessarily the best candidate for Commonwealth membership, and a sovereign state isn't necessarily the best candidate for Commonwealth membership either. While the founders of the CNRS wanted a more effective, more inclusive, less political, and more research-driven society than the UCS, in order to improve the community, work and potential of the existing Commonwealth of Nations, the society's first research serendipitously produced results that show that this philosophy is actually the most rational one.
Today the CNRS launched a poll on its Web site which asks Internet navigators to pick an alternative top-level domain (TLD) for the Commonwealth of Nations. The reason for the poll is very pragmatic. According to James Alcock, Member of the CNRS International Committee, the society is contemplating about actually starting a working alternative top-level domain (TLD) for the Commonwealth. The society also wishes to develop an alternative currency/exchange mechanism for the Commonwealth.
