The Role of the Commonwealth in the New Epoch

Topic: The Role of the Commonwealth in the New Epoch

Date: December 21, 2023

Speaker: Dr. Venkat Iyer

Key Takeaways:

The Centre for East Asian Studies (CEAS) Department of International Studies, Political Science, and History hosted a guest lecture by Dr. Venkat Iyer, School of Law, Ulster University. Editor of the Round Table: Commonwealth Journal of International Affairs on December 21, 2023. The special lecture, titled "The Role of the Commonwealth in the New Epoch". The talk intended to analyse, and debate the many features of the Commonwealth, and the speaker also highlighted a few points on publishing in high-impact journals.  

His presentation delved into thought-provoking inquiries about the future of the Commonwealth, questioning whether it is merely a comfortable association of former colonies. The discourse gave a comprehensive overview of the Commonwealth, elucidating its origins, all bound by the ideals of democracy and peace.

Several salient and intricate features were emphasised, including the notably high proportion of individuals under the age of 29 in Commonwealth countries. Despite its origins in the Empire, the Commonwealth does not have a written constitution. However, it does have a secretariat, shared traditions, and institutions, although these have been declining in recent years. The speaker highlighted specific examples, specifically mentioning Ireland and Myanmar as countries that are not part of the Commonwealth.

The speaker emphasised that King Charles of England has the position of leader of the Commonwealth, and it is crucial to acknowledge that this role is not hereditary. Nevertheless, the primary impediment is guaranteeing an adequate amount of funds. The speaker also highlighted the benefits of the Commonwealth's participation in events like the Commonwealth Games, which have a large following. Additionally, the Commonwealth provides scholarships as part of its initiatives and promotes networking opportunities, as demonstrated by its partnerships with professional associations such as those for lawyers, nurses, and other professions. It functions as a platform for facilitating the promotion of English language acquisition. The adaptable character of the Commonwealth attracts different nations, enabling them to easily join or leave. The Commonwealth is frequently perceived from the perspective of historical colonisation, invoking emotions linked to that time period. Although facing obstacles, the Commonwealth endeavours to establish a shared identity. The Commonwealth initiatives seek to tackle matters pertaining to migration and climate change.

Q&A session on Commonwealth

After the lecture, the students and faculty posed questions to the speaker on:

• The initial inquiry examined the viability of the Commonwealth in the absence of a clearly defined goal and raised doubts about the necessity of India's involvement in the Commonwealth. 

Response: The speaker illustrated the potential pitfalls by referencing the historical failure of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) due to a lack of a clear objective. He conveyed that the development of a clear objective for the Commonwealth would require time. The speaker asserted that while India may not necessarily need the Commonwealth, the Commonwealth undeniably benefits from India's involvement.

• The second question pertained to whether Britain had issued an apology to India for the many years of subjucation and rule?

Response: The speaker subtly emphasized the complexity surrounding the issue of apologies.

• An inquiry emerged regarding the post-1945 landscape, comparing the British colonial legacy manifested in the Commonwealth to the disintegration of the USSR and contrasting it with the success of ASEAN and SCO.

Response: The speaker expounded on the Commonwealth's enduring shared legacy, common values, and traditions.

• The audience sought clarification on Canada's withdrawal from funding and questioned why other entities, such as ABC, continued to provide financial support. 

Response: The speaker attributed Canada's decision to domestic pressures, financial constraints, and fluctuations in foreign policy objectives.

• The final question explored potential alternative approaches to enhance the effectiveness of the Commonwealth. 

Response: The speaker acknowledged the difficulty of proposing concrete alternatives, highlighting its complexity.

Session Focus: Publishing in High-Impact Journals

During the later half of the session, the focus switched to the second topic of the presentation, which was titled "Publishing in High Impact Journals."

Key Takeaways:

The speaker highlighted the importance of recognizing the diverse array of journals available for publication. He mentioned that publishing in open access journals is largely preferred but also drew attention to the financial facet, with processing charges averaging around £3,500. Regrettably, this poses a significant challenge for researchers in third-world countries who grapple with affordability issues. Nevertheless, the speaker points to a potential solution through grants, highlighting their pivotal role in supporting researchers from economically disadvantaged regions and mitigating the financial barriers associated with open access publication.

The speaker adeptly addressed significant issues in research communication, emphasizing the paramount importance of maintaining quality. By advocating for engaging narratives that avoid excessive dryness, the speaker highlighted the need for a captivating presentation of key arguments. Simplicity in expression, avoidance of flowery language, and adherence to clear and concise writing styles were recommended to enhance communication. The speaker's directive on crafting abstracts within a 100-200-word limit has a pragmatic approach to attract editors. He encouraged the papers to produce challenging concepts; the speaker aimed to stimulate further discussion and influence the scholarly discourse. He proposed practical solutions to identified problems, exploring reasonable angles and stressing the importance of preliminary research and a well-structured outline. The speaker encourages students to have the willingness to edit and to adhere to journal formats in order to produce comprehensive and effective research articles. Overall, the speaker successfully brought out the significance of effective communication in research while providing practical solutions to common challenges.

Anticipated Expectations of Roundtable Journal

The speaker's expectations for the Round Table Journal center on a dedication to clarity and adherence to format standards. The speaker, representing the journal's stance, places significant emphasis on a realistic and captivating topic or work in submissions. It is expected that authors align their chosen topics with current hot issues, delivering truly original contributions to the field. Proficiency in English writing skills is considered crucial to maintaining coherence and clarity throughout the manuscript. The overall structure, including a well-crafted title, a concise abstract, relevant keywords, and a thoughtful acknowledgment section, is outlined as a general expectation. The speaker stressed that the journal seeks submissions that not only meet high linguistic standards but also significantly contribute to the ongoing discourse in the respective field.

Q&A session: Publishing in High Impact Journals

• In terms of authorship, how does it help or affect an author to be the second or third author in a paper?

Response: The speaker emphasized that the impact of authorship positions varies based on institutional frameworks or assessment criteria. In Western contexts, being a second or third author typically poses no issues.

• Why is the format given more importance than the original idea of the work?

Response: The speaker highlighted that both the format and the original idea are equally important in the evaluation of scholarly works.

• If quality is important, then why does the current model of research careers depend on the number of publications (quantity over quality)?

Response: The speaker asserted that while the current model emphasizes the quantity of publications, the intrinsic value lies in the quality of research. Quality is deemed more crucial than sheer quantity in advancing research careers.