the intentions and authority of the League of Nations and the UN

Question 1

League of Nations

Answer 1

Written in the ToV and resolved international disputes, administrated world justice and aimed to avoid future conflict by achieving ‘collective security’
an international governmental organisation composed of member states from around the world, united (in theory) in the goal of maintaining world peace
consisted of an assembly (equal representatives from member nations) a council (responsible for settling international disputes) and a general secretariat
Established in 1920, and originally consisted of only Britain, France, Italy and Japan. Disbanded in 1946

Authority and Aims

designed to resolve international disputes through arbitration, encouraging disarmament, and doling out justice.
collective security (internationalism: the belief in the importance of the common good of all nations above the interests of one’s own individual nation)
Disarmament
any acts of war would affect all members of the league. measures would thus be put in place
settlement of disputes

Outcomes

Despite the failure of the league of Nations to prevent the outbreak of WW1, there was a desire to create a UN in the aftermath of the war

Judgment
League was successful in its smaller aims e.g. preventing smaller wars between less powerful nations and helped set up organisations to improve lives
Limitations: members did not always agree, nationalism preceded internationalism, and the league lacked a military force. Decision making was dominated by the ‘Big Three’
Failed to respond to invasions by Japan, Italy, Italy/Germany in Manchuria, Abyssinia and the Spanish Civil War, thus undermining the LoN’s credibility
Was never given enough real power by its member nations, who were too concerned by their own interests
Therefore, the League didn’t have the authority to prevent larger conflicts and had essentially become irrelevant by the time another world war began in 1939

Question 2

Structure of the United Nations

Answer 2

Aims
work as collective to improve the lives of people throughout the world, throughout the world,
they attempted to maintain international peace and security and to achieve cooperation among nations on economic, social, and humanitarian problem
through acts such as protecting human rights and combating poverty and starvation

Authority
May 1943 delegates from Allied Nations met to set up UNRRA, in hopes to speed up economic recovery after the war
authority of the UN was immediately greater than the League of Nations
United States (most powerful nation at the time) became a member at the start and has remained ever since

Success
prevention of war, maintained good international relationships, improving global welfare

Failures
Difficulty making and carrying out decisions due to inherent limitations in organisation, lack of authority