W. McIntyre – författare

A look at the Commonwealth from the founding of the Secretariat in 1965 to the 14th Commonwealth Games in 1990. The book is divided into three parts. "Structure" looks at origins, the Heads of Government Meetings, the Secretariat and the Commonwealth in a global setting. "Issues" covers race, Africa, inequalities and the security of small states. The largest part, on "Functioning" looks at regionalism, functional organizations, professional linkages, peoples, sport and the role of the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth. The book concludes with an "Agenda for the 1990s".

This is the final volume on the stategic history of the Antipodean Empire which began with "The Rise and Fall of the Singapore Naval Base"(1979) and "New Zealand Prepares for War" (1988). This study contains a detailed analysis of American, British, Australian and New Zealand strategic planning during the early years of the Cold War, including their plans for fighting World War III in the Middle East and the diplomatic negotiations leading up to the security treaty signed by Australia, New Zealand and the United States in 1951. Furthermore, it considers the problems raised by Britain's exclusion from the Anzus and the subsequent creation of Seato and the British Commonwealth Far East Strategic Reserve in Malaya.

It highlights critical questions of balance that have emerged between the relative roles of governments and official agencies, voluntary associations, and private business.