The Commonwealth has been called a collection of diverse peoples ' united bv the strife which divides them.' Between now and the Commonwealth Conference in Singapore in January, the strife over issues like arms for South Africa, Britain's application to join the Common Market, and the proposed changes in immigration policy is likely to drown any talk of unity.
In a series of five talks the BBC's East Africa correspondent PETER STEWART examines the potential for crisis, 1: Winter in Singapore