League of Nations

what was the League of nations

founded in 1920 after WW1 based in geneve

groundbreaking attempt for international order

organisation based on dialogue/ diplomacy to mantain world peace, collective security (an attack to one state lead the response of all), humanitarian and healthcare aid

proposed by Wilson (american)

basend on the Covenant ( treaty of Versaille)

gave economic sanction NOT military

the impact was uneven and not neutral

what were the main parts of the league of nations

Assembly

council

secreteriant

permanent international court of justice

what is the assembly

all the members took part of it, each had one equal vote, so small states had the same “power” as big power

met once a year in geneve to prevent conflicts,

action required anonimaty, which was rare, so rare actual action took place

what is the council

only the permanent memebers took part of it (italy, UK, France and Japan originally, Russia and Germany later)

met multiple times a year to handle disputes among states

what is the secretariant

made by lots of workers from diffrerent nationalities, they had to be loyal to the league and not to thir government (international civil service)

they were doing reports and administrative stuff.

what is the permanent international court of Justice

funded in 1922

made of 15 judges which have the chairs for 9 years

they give advice on countries which had disputes

they were not effective, as they were technically independent from the rest of the League of nations and the member states were just ignoring them

summarise of countries presence in the league

US: never there

USSR: 1934 and then expelled in 1939 for invading Finland

Italy: was part of it until it invaded Ethipia (ALbyssia) in 1937

Japan: was part of it until it invaded Manchuria in 1931

UK: was fundamental part of it for ALL the time ( form 1920 to 1946)

France: was fundamental part of it for ALL the time

Germany: 1925 - 1933(due to Hitler not approving the orders)

US presence in LoN

President Wilson was the “father “ of the League of Nations

however he lost consent from the population and then the elections, and the opposite political party did not approve the League of Nation membership of the US.

US NEVER PART OF LoN

France presence in LoN

always part of it, fundamental (1920-1946)

UK presence in LoN

always a part of it, fundamental (1926-1946)

Italy presence in LoN

was part of it until it invaded Ethiopia (albyssia) in 1937

the league applied only weak economic sanctions, showing their weaknesses to the world)

Japan presence in LoN

Part of it until 1931, when it attacked Manchuria.

the response of the LoN was slow (after 1 year) and Japan then left the LoN without facing any consequences.

USSR presence in LoN

was not invited as the West was scared of communist expansion

however in 1934 USSR joined the LoN as Stalin wanted stability, was scared of fascim in Italy/ Japan

in 1939 was expelled as it invaded Finland (winter law)

Germany presence in LoN

at first was not present as it was meant to be punished for WW1

in 1925 it joined the league of nations

in 1933 Hitler left as it didnt accept the orders of it

why did the LoN fail (4)

1. structural weakness

2. unable to solve international crisis

3. big powers interests

4. wider global dinamics

structural weaknesses of LoN (reason it failed)

the US did not join ( the father of the LoN), thus one of the biggest economy wasn’t present

inefficiency of sanctions (slow decisions making)

no military forces of its own

decisions required anonaminity=> rare actions took place

unable to solve international crisis (reason it failed)

1. Mussolini invading Ethiopia (albyssia) in 1937, the LoN responded slowly, inefficiently with weak economic sanctions

2. Japan invading Manchuria in 1931, the LoN reported it only after 1 year, and japan was able to leave the LoN without facing any consequences

Big powers interests (reason it failed)

France and UK, the biggest powers, were constantly taking advantage and thinking of only their intersts rather than the League

wider global dynamics (reason it failed)

1. great depression in US

2. no collective security

3. fascist expansion in iTaly, Germany and Japan (thus nationalism as well and no interest in collaboration with other states)