Final answer:
The Commonwealth of Independent States is tied together by shared history, culture, economic interests, and common ancestry, particularly resulting from their time as part of the Soviet Union, which reinforced a collective national identity upon its collapse.
Step-by-step explanation:
The ties that bind members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) stem primarily from their shared history, cultural and economic connections, and in many instances, common ancestry and identity. The CIS came into being after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, when eleven former Soviet states united under this new organization. While each state maintained its sovereignty and various degrees of independence, they formed a loose partnership to strengthen their collective national security and economic interests. The concept of kinship and shared identity significantly contributed to this union, linking them to a common past and set of relationships.
These connections often manifest through a shared sense of national identity based on language, ethnicity, or religion. In particular, the creation of the individual Soviet Socialist Republics during the Soviet era had fostered certain national identities, which later influenced the relations between the independent states. The collapse of the Soviet Union allowed these republics to declare independence and join the CIS, thereby preserving certain ties while forging new intergovernmental relations.