ABSTRACT
In 2023, the Commonwealth of Nations has 56 member countries, of which 33 are categorised as “small states.” Of course, there are other small states outside the Commonwealth, and we now have 193 United Nations (UN) member states. However, British policymakers until the mid-20th century did not envisage this kind of “Balkanised” world, in which many small states are independent and became members of the UN and the Commonwealth. What they envisaged was a world with much fewer independent states, at least some of which would be federations of smaller ex-colonies or “small nations.” This chapter will examine the parting of the ways among these “small nations” to become either parts of larger federations or separate small states. Particular attention will be paid to Canada, two Canadian provinces (Quebec and Newfoundland, the latter of which was renamed Newfoundland and Labrador in 2001) and Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon. The concept and realities of “small nations” will be critically re-examined (not only broadened but also relativised) through these multiple and multi-layered examples and perspectives of global history, namely historical analysis of “global connections and comparisons.”
