Abstract: This report reviews the evidence base for the impact of cultural and linguistic competence in health and mental health care on health outcomes and well-being and the costs and benefits to the system. The authors conducted a structured search of Medline from January 1995 to March 2006 to identify primary research articles on health outcomes and well-being. An exploratory search of multiple databases was performed to identify evidence related to the business case. The review of the health outcomes literature indicated that the field is in the early stages of development, with the preponderance of literature defining the concepts and identifying research questions. Some promising studies support the efficacy of cultural and linguistic competence affecting health and mental health outcomes. Evidence of decreased systems costs is not currently present in the literature. The authors identify key gaps in the current literature and specific methodological and funding limitations to be addressed. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This report and other Fund publications are available online at www.cmwf.org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 962.

Abstract: In March 2007, a conference on Public Diplomacy was held at Wilton Park, the conference centre of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office. Public Diplomacy practitioners and academics from several different countries attended the event, and a lively discussion emerged around the future of PD. One strand of the debate that particularly interested me centred on the connection between PD and competitive identity.

Abstract: A Commonwealth of Knowledge addresses the relationship between social and scientific thought, colonial identity, and political power in nineteenth- and twentieth-century South Africa. It hinges on the tension between colonial knowledge, conceived of as a universal, modernizing force, and its realization in the context of a society divided along complex ethnic and racial fault-lines. By means of detailed analysis of colonial cultures, literary and scientific institutions, and expert historical thinking about South Africa and its peoples, it demonstrates the ways in which the cultivation of knowledge has served to support white political ascendancy and claims to nationhood. In a sustained commentary on modern South African historiography, the significance of `broad' South Africanism - a political tradition designed to transcend differences between white English- and Afrikaans-speakers - is emphasized. A Commonwealth of Knowledge also engages with wider comparative debates. These include the nature of imperial and colonial knowledge systems; the role of intellectual ideas and concepts in constituting ethnic, racial, and regional identities; the dissemination of ideas between imperial metropole and colonial periphery; the emergence of amateur and professional intellectual communities; and the encounter between imperial and indigenous or local knowledge systems. The book has broad scope. It opens with a discussion of civic institutions (eg. museums, libraries, botanical gardens and scientific societies), and assesses their role in creating a distinctive sense of Cape colonial identity; the book goes on to discuss the ways in which scientific and other forms of knowledge contributed to the development of a capacious South Africanist patriotism compatible with continued membership of the British Commonwealth; it concludes with reflections on the techno-nationalism of the apartheid state and situates contemporary concerns like the `African Renaissance', and responses to HIV/AIDS, in broad historical context.

Abstract: This report reviews key principles of quality (as it relates to the overall quality of the health care system and individual approaches to quality improvement); reviews evidence of the existence and root causes of racial and ethnic health disparities and recommendations to address them; and discusses strategies by which the quality and cultural competence movements could be linked. In particular, it focuses on the Institute of Medicine’s six principles for designing a highquality health care system to identify areas where aspects of cultural competence would be central to achieving high quality. It then presents a framework outlining both hypothetical and proven strategies for delivering high-quality, culturally competent care. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the author and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This report and other Fund publications are available online at www.cmwf.org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 961.

Abstract: "This rich array of essays shows how the lens of history can clarify contemporary health-policy dilemmas and enable the reader to see ahead more clearly." --Harvey V. Fineberg, President, Institute of Medicine "A refreshing antidote for those finding it difficult to envision a better future for health care in America...This excellent book helps us all to better understand the subtle relationship among values, institutions, economics, and medicine that shapes our health system." --Stuart M. Butler, Vice President for Domestic Policy, The Heritage Foundation "An important book for those wrestling with the appropriate role of markets in U.S. health policy." --Karen Davis, President, The Commonwealth Fund In this book, seventeen leading scholars make the case for the usefulness of history in evaluating and formulating health policy today. In looking at issues as varied as the consumer economy and the plight of the uninsured, the contributors uncover the ways we think about technology, the role of government, and contemporary medicine. They show how historical perspectives can help policy makers avoid the pitfalls of partisan, outdated, or merely fashionable approaches, as well as how knowledge of previous systems can offer alternatives when policy directions seem unclear. Rosemary A. Stevens is DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholar in social medicine and public policy at Weill Cornell Medical College and professor emerita of the history and sociology of science at the University of Pennsylvania. Charles E. Rosenberg is a professor of the history of science and Ernest E. Monrad Professor in the social sciences at Harvard University. Lawton R. Burns is the James Joo-Jin Kim Professor of Health Care Systems at the University of Pennsylvania. A volume in the Critical Issues in Health and Medicine series, edited by Rima D. Apple and Janet Golden

Abstract: This is a major work of imperial history, by (in the words of A.J.P. Taylor) 'the foremost historian of the British Empire and Commonwealth in his generation'. "Pax Britannica to Pax Americana" is the story of the British Empire from its late-nineteenth century flowering to its present extinction. Louis traces the British Empire from the scramble for Africa - itself the mirror-image of what was to become decolonization - through the Mandates system of 'sacred trust', the turbulent imperial history of the Second World War in Asia and finally to the the unstoppable mid-20th century rush to independence. Of particular relevance as its 50th anniversary approaches, the Suez crisis was the icon of empire's end. It forms the ideal platform from which to examine the aims and outcome of empire. This authoritative and highly engaging history appears at a time when interest in the history of the British Empire has, ironically, never been stronger, making Ends of British Imperialism a must-read item for both scholar and general reader.

Abstract: Introduction: Ireland and the British Empire 1. A Laboratory for Empire?: Early Modern Ireland and English Imperialism 2. 'This famous island set in a Virginian sea': Ireland in the British Empire, 1690-1801 3. The Irish in the Empire 4. Empire and Fiction: The Irish Novel 5. Ireland, the Union, and the Empire 6. Ireland, the Empire, and the Commonwealth 7. Historiography 8. Postcolonial Ireland Index

Abstract: Between 1940 and 1960, the British Government became increasingly concerned with the welfare of students coming to Britain from the dependent territories of the Commonwealth. The reasons were political, cultural, and economic. This essay traces the transition of official attitudes, from modest promotion to active policy. With the coming ‘end of Empire’, Britain chose a role that combined cooperation with the Commonwealth with future membership in the European community.

Abstract: International commerce is made more difficult and costly by the requirements of all the different legal systems involved - and nowhere more so than within the European Union. There are fundamental differences here between the attitudes and responses of the English common law and those of the civil law systems across the rest of Europe. The answers they give may be much the same in the end, but business people and legal practitioners clearly need to understand how very different the vocabularies and processes of argument and analysis can be. Earlier editions of this work proved very helpful for these purposes, and now another update has become necessary. The book explains in plain English the day-to-day realities of British business practices and usages as reflected in the decisions of the courts, and provides concise statements of equivalent rules in eight other EU jurisdictions - Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands, Poland, Spain, and Sweden - written by distinguished legal scholars from those countries. Scottish, Commonwealth and United States rules are also noted, as are the proposed Principles of European Contract Law. Appendices include essential United Kingdom statutory materials and the Vienna Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. This fifth edition of this important work, featuring some 150 new cases and new provisions in national codes, will be as widely welcomed by practitioners as by students of business and comparative law.

Abstract: This paper uses postcolonial theory to establish a critique of the concept of ‘partnership’ in the British Labour government’s 1997 White Paper on International Development, which is routed through the colonial metaphor of the British Commonwealth ‘family of nations’ to reproduce racialized hierarchies and deny mutuality in the contemporary development of Britain and its former colonies. In the course of this critique, the paper urges British geography to acknowledge its own postcoloniality, which will lead to a mainstreaming of concerns about global justice and provide intellectual resources to reimagine the geographies of postcolonial Britain.

Abstract: This report examines the extent, causes, and consequences of instability in public coverage programs for children and families. It focuses particularly on the phenomenon of “churning,” which occurs when individuals lose and regain coverage in a short period of time. It also looks at strategies to make public program coverage more stable for children and families. Findings are drawn from a variety of sources, including national and state-based studies, roundtable discussions and interviews with stakeholders and experts, and an examination of the effect of state and local policies on instability and churning in four states: Louisiana, Rhode Island, Virginia, and Washington. The experiences of these states demonstrate that coverage instability can be averted to a significant degree by adopting key policies and procedures, like limiting the frequency of required renewals; developing easy, seamless transitions among public coverage programs; and setting affordable limits on premium costs. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This report and other Fund publications are available online at www.cmwf.org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 935.

Abstract: This paper provides principles and recommendations for implementing cultural competency in the field. The following six principles are key to a successful cultural competency effort: 1) community representation and feedback at all stages of implementation; 2) cultural competency integrated into all systems of the health care organization, particularly quality improvement efforts; 3) ensuring that changes made are manageable, measurable, and sustainable; 4) making the business case for implementation of cultural competency polices; 5) commitment from leadership; and 6) staff training on an ongoing basis. Based on interviews with leaders in the field of cultural competency, the authors discuss best practices and important lessons in the implementation of cultural competency initiatives. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This report and other Fund publications are available online at www.cmwf.org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 964.

Abstract: An overview is presented of recent work on the environmental changes impacting on Australia and the policy responses of the State and Commonwealth governments, especially over the last ten years. This period has seen a remarkably stable phase of conservative government administration in Canberra and consistent resistance to a strong environmental policy agenda, both domestically and internationally. Attention is focused particularly on rural and regional Australia, rather than on urban areas. The paper discusses the role of environmental issues in recent elections and also details the results of relevant opinion polls charting changes in environmental attitudes. The problems posed by the federal system of administration are outlined as are recent analyses and counter-analyses of the state of the Australian environment. A more fundamental problem with liberal democracy and environmental values is also addressed.

Abstract: The Cole Royal Commission into AWB sales of wheat to Iraq once again draws attention to questions of when should governments resort to ad hoc inquiries and, in particular, establish royal commissions with their associated prestige and statutory powers to call and examine witnesses and require presentation of documents. In this article, Dr Scott Prasser, author of ‘Royal Commisions and Public Inquiries in Australia (Lexis Nexis 2006) examines the use of royal commissions and other investigatory/inquisitorial instruments of executive government by Commonwealth and state governments.

Abstract: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) has been dealing with European integration for over fifty years and has, like the British government in general, demonstrated a mix of enthusiasm and suspicion regarding its evolution. Such a long and close involvement has inevitably had an impact upon the way the FCO operates, the way it sees the world, and how others perceive and work with it. This chapter will concentrate on the impact of European Union (EU) membership on the FCO and on its role in the making and implementation of British foreign policy. Specifically, we assess the extent to which these activities have been Europeanized.

Abstract: (2006). Natural Obligations and The Common Law of Unjust Enrichment. Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal: Vol. 6, No. 2, pp. 133-156.

Abstract: Changes are afoot in Australia's federal arrangements concerning competition policy. While many of the proposals to enlarge the Commonwealth's sphere of influence are played out in the media, other shifts are more subtle. This article examines one of those areas of change. It looks at National Competition Policy and in particular, its regulatory reform components. It argues that the approach adopted in the 1995 agreement, which was characterised by broad principles, meticulous monitoring and substantial financial carrots, has provided the Commonwealth with a useful tool for effectively intervening in areas that have been until now, matters of state responsibility.

Abstract: This article investigates whether and under what conditions Public Accounts Committees (PACs) are able to scrutinize government accounts. In doing so, we analyze survey data from 51 Commonwealth countries collected by the World Bank Institute in 2002. We find that the relationship between the formal powers of the PACs and their successful performance is conditional. Specifically, we argue that the success of PACs depend on the behavior of committee members, on the availability of independent sources of information, and on the media's interest in scrutinizing government accounts.

Abstract: Challenging earlier scholarship that has suggested that the Commonwealth Games contributed unproblematically to imperial and commonwealth unity, this article explores the multiple, and conflicting, contemporary local meanings of the 1954 British Empire & Commonwealth Games held in Vancouver, Canada. In addition to emphasising the sporting and economic dimensions of the Games, the article introduces the concept of ‘liquid imperialism’ to highlight the complexity of Canada's imperial connection in the post-war era. By examining not only official pronouncements, but also oppositional voices and the manner in which the Games were appropriated by a number of competing interests, the article argues for a more complex understanding of the Games' cultural influence while examining the nature of Canada's imperial connection during the middle of the 20th century.

Abstract: In January 1867 T.H. Green gave a series of Four Lectures on the English Commonwealth to the Edinburgh Philosophical Institute, which were then published, on the testimony of 'competent judges', in the third volume of his Collected Works edited by R.L. Nettleship. Green's family background ensured that he had strong interests in the history of Puritanism and the figure of Oliver Cromwell, and he was thoroughly immersed in many of the political and religious controversies of the later quarter of the nineteenth century. Nevertheless, his assessment of the English Commonwealth as a fruit of the Reformation, rather than as a discrete transformation in political culture, has received relatively little attention in the massive literature devoted to Green's political philosophy. This essay assesses these lectures in order to show their importance for understanding in particular his analysis of freedom. It argues that without an understanding of his account of the origins of modern legal freedom born out of the English Revolution, analyses of Green's theory of freedom remain partial and incomplete. It does so by illustrating in detail the content of the lectures, the intellectual and historical debates in English philosophy and German theology that buttressed his arguments, by locating Green's Lectures within wider accounts of the character of English exceptionalism, and by attempting to examine the political context that helped to structure Green's analysis.

Abstract: This paper examines the dynamics and policy context of the active international recruitment of nurses from the Philippines to the United Kingdom (UK). While the UK has a long history of recruiting nurses and other health professionals from other English speaking countries of the Commonwealth (e.g India and the countries of the Caribbean), 1 there were, until recently, no significant nurse migration links between the UK and the Philippines. Previously published research regarding Filipino nurses in the UK has been limited to small-scale surveys focusing on educational issues. 2 This paper reports on the swift rise and apparent recent decline in the number of nurses coming from the Philippines to the UK and draws on the findings of a survey of international nurses working in London 3 to explore issues related to career motivations and mobility of Filipino nurses working in the UK.

Abstract: This report presents 10 case studies of health care organizations, clinical teams, and learning collaborations that have designed innovations in five areas that hold great promise for improving patient safety nationally: promoting an organizational culture of safety, improving teamwork and communication, enhancing rapid response to prevent heart attacks and other crises in the hospital, preventing health care–associated infections in the intensive care unit, and preventing adverse drug events throughout the hospital. Participating organizations ranged from large integrated delivery systems to small community hospitals. The cases describe the actions taken, results achieved, and lessons learned by these patient safety leaders, with suggestions for those seeking to replicate their successes. Support for this research was provided by The Commonwealth Fund. The views presented here are those of the authors and not necessarily those of The Commonwealth Fund or its directors, officers, or staff. This and other Fund publications are online at www.cmwf.org. To learn more about new publications when they become available, visit the Fund’s Web site and register to receive e-mail alerts. Commonwealth Fund pub. no. 923.

Abstract: This article outlines the basic features of free association, one of the three options for a self-determining people under U.N. General Assembly Resolution 1541. It examines the relationship between the United States and Puerto Rico (previously examined in Michael Reisman's 1975 Puerto Rico and the International Process), and the relationship between the United States and the four states that comprised the former Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands. Three states have compacts of free association with the United States: the Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico also enjoy significant internal self-government and a degree of separate international personality. The authors argue that free association arrangements in contemporary international law encompass a range of relationships that can enable weaker states to promote their core values by associating with more powerful states. Associations must be voluntary, and they invite ongoing appraisal by the international community to ensure that the association does not unduly subordinate the weaker state.

Abstract: This thesis uses evidence from British and international archives to examine the events leading up to Rhodesia’s Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) on 11 November 1965 from the perspectives of Britain, the Old Commonwealth (Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), and the United States. Two underlying themes run throughout the thesis. First, it argues that although the problem of Rhodesian independence was highly complex, a UDI was by no means inevitable. There were courses of action that were dismissed or remained under explored (especially in Britain, but also in the Old Commonwealth, and the United States), which could have been pursued further and may have prevented a UDI. Second, the thesis argues there were structural weaknesses in the machinery of government of each of the major actors, but particularly in Britain. This made the management of the Rhodesian Crisis more difficult, contributed to the likelihood of a UDI, and exacerbated tension in relations between Britain and its international partners. In stressing these themes the thesis builds upon some of the earlier literature that was critical of the Labour Government’s foreign and Commonwealth policies. Although this thesis is primarily an international history, it also makes use of theories from political science and international relations to frame certain aspects of the empirical research.

Abstract: Globally the HIV and AIDS epidemic remains a major public health social economic and development challenge. The Commonwealth Heads of Government have reaffirmed their commitment to combating HIV and AIDS malaria and other communicable diseases in recognition of the human devastation caused by HIV and AIDS and the threat it poses to sustainable development. In the Commonwealth Sierra Leone mid-term review of the 15th Conference of Commonwealth Education Ministers (CCEM) held in 2005 African education ministers expressed interest in learning about good practices regarding education sector responses to HIV and AIDS in Africa. Education is one of the sectors worst affected by the pandemic. On the one hand HIV and AIDS have affected educator supply because of the relatively high sero-prevalence found among teachers. On the other it has made millions of children orphans thereby increasing the responsibility of schools and teachers. This document summarises the key issues regarding HIV and AIDS and the education sector and is based primarily on a review of published literature and the findings of the regional workshop organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat and the Association for the Development of Education in Africa (ADEA) from 12 to 14 September 2006 at the Airport Grand Hotel in Johannesburg South Africa. The workshop was attended by 40 delegates and its focus was on Good Practices in Education Sector Responses to HIV and AIDS in Africa. The main aim of the workshop was to provide a forum for the sharing presentation and review of HIV and AIDS good practice education sector responses in Africa. Speakers included technical experts and government officials and presentations varied from overall education sector responses to specific country and programme experiences. (excerpt)