League of Nations

The League of Nations was an international organization which initially was responsible for the elimination of the consequences of the World War I. Its main objectives included ensuring collective security, settling disputes between countries through diplomatic negotiations, preventing military operations, and improving the quality of life in the post-war world. This intergovernmental organization did not have any official flag or logo. All in all, the League of Nations became a completely new body that regulated the international system of law of that time essays-leader.com

There were several factors leading to the founding of the League of Nations. The most important of them was the hardships of the World War I. Moreover, the politicians and the public of the Western countries expressed their desire to regulate the international affairs at official level. In fact, in the years of the war itself, there was already an active discussion of the projects of the creation of the League of Nations as an intergovernmental organization capable of ensuring universal peace and security. On the eve of the Paris Conference, the US President Wilson took the initiative in this matter. He was a deeply religious person known for his messianic sentiments and passionate commitment to the ideals of ‘new freedom’ inspired by the ideas of social liberalism. Wilson strove to bring a spirit of constructive cooperation, humanism, and democracy to the world of politics. However, his vision was not supported by the pragmatic representatives of not only the British and French, but also by most American politicians. Consequently, the discussion regarding the organizational principles of the League of Nations at the Paris Conference was held in a fierce struggle where each delegation tried to gain the benefit for its own country. As a result, the final concept of the body reflected the complete predominance of the interests of the European powers and their reluctance to abandon the imperial strategy. In many respects, the principles of the League of Nations became a reflection of the popular representations of the civilizing mission of the white population. It was obvious that the proposal of the Japanese delegation to include an article on the equality of races in the organization's charter would be rejected. Nevertheless, the creation of the given intergovernmental body was a significant breakthrough in the realization of peace. It was perceived as unified political and legal system where the subjectivity of a particular state was inseparably linked with general principles and norms of relationship with the organization.

To continue, the main purpose of the League of Nations, which consisted of more than 60 countries, was the achievement of universal goals. These were ensuring collective security, settling conflicts between countries via diplomatic interventions, combating illicit trafficking and slave trade, and protecting the rights of national minorities. During the first years after the World War I, the administration of the organization played an important role in the resolution of several regional conflicts in Europe. As the political situation in Europe stabilized, the body attempted to create a sustainable system of international security. In September 1922, the Assembly of the League of Nations adopted a resolution that called for the establishment of a treaty on collective security between the member countries. However, the presented initiative was not successfully implemented within the organization because of the political disagreements. Finally, the powers of the League of Nations were terminated on April 18, 1946. Nevertheless, it could be stated that the League of Nations established the basis for the development of the United Nations (UN).

To conclude, the League of Nations was the intergovernmental organization that aimed to cope with the consequences of the World War I. It was established following the initiative of the American President Wilson. Its main goals were disarmament of the countries, prevention of military conflicts, settlement of conflicts between countries through diplomatic negotiations, and provision of security in the world. Later, the given organization created the basis for the development of the one called the United Nations.