
The League of Nations was the world’s first intergovernmental organization whose principal mission was to maintain global peace and prevent future wars. It emerged in the aftermath of the First World War as a bold and unprecedented experiment in collective security and diplomacy.
Founded on January 10, 1920, the League was established by the Treaty of Versailles, the same treaty that formally ended World War I. Its creation was largely driven by U.S. President Woodrow Wilson, who envisioned a new international order where countries would resolve their disputes through dialogue rather than conflict. Ironically, the United States never joined the League, due to opposition from the U.S. Senate, a decision that would later undermine its credibility and influence.
The League’s headquarters was located in Geneva, Switzerland, a neutral country chosen to emphasize its nonpartisan mission. It had three main bodies: the Assembly (composed of all member states), the Council (a smaller executive group), and the Permanent Secretariat. Over time, the League grew to include 58 member countries, including most of the world’s major powers, though some would join and withdraw as political alliances shifted.
The organization’s goals were ambitious: disarmament, preventing war through collective security, settling disputes between countries through negotiation and arbitration, and improving global conditions related to labor rights, health, and minority protections.
Despite these noble ideals, the League of Nations struggled from the start. It had no standing army or enforcement powers, relying instead on moral pressure and economic sanctions. Several crises during the 1920s and 1930s exposed its weaknesses. Notable failures included its inability to prevent Japan’s invasion of Manchuria in 1931, Italy’s invasion of Ethiopia in 1935, and the rise of Nazi Germany.
One of the main criticisms was that the League could not function effectively without the active participation of major powers, especially the United States. Additionally, the rule of unanimity in its decision-making process made swift action nearly impossible.
By the time World War II broke out in 1939, the League had essentially ceased to function. It officially dissolved on April 18, 1946, transferring its remaining responsibilities to the newly formed United Nations — an organization built upon many of the League’s foundational ideas but with stronger structure and broader participation.
While the League of Nations failed in its ultimate mission to prevent global war, its legacy lives on. It represented the first major attempt to create a rules-based international order and laid the groundwork for future cooperation between states. Lessons learned from its shortcomings directly influenced the design of the United Nations, which continues to play a vital role in global diplomacy today.