Notes for The end of collective security - IB | RevisionDojo
The end of collective security Notes
The End of Collective Security
Collective Security and the League of Nations
As we have seen in previous sections, the 1930s was a period of heavy economic and political crisis, impacting both on the domestic and foreign policies of nations.
The idea of the end of collective security shows how WW2 was in a way allowed by the lack of commitment of countries to preserve peace.
Note
"Collective security" in the 1930s referred to the idea that countries would act together to prevent aggression and maintain peace, typically through international cooperation, especially within the framework of the League of Nations.
It was an ideal that emerged after the traumatic consequences of WW1, but it proved to be no more than that.
Why did collective security fail?
1. The Impact of the Great Depression
The Great Depression brought high levels of unemployment and very low productivity.
The political translation this had was that peoples in different parts of the world grew disillusioned by democracy and liberal capitalism.
Partly as a consequence of the Great Depression, Hitler came to power in Germany in 1933 with an explicit aim of disrupting international order and rejecting treaties.
The US had not joined the League of Nations in 1920, and the Depression only deepened its political isolationism.
Apart from recalling loans, the Americans raised tariffs and established protectionist measures.
This suggested that the US would not be available to support or uphold international peace if a crisis erupted.
Example
In July 1933, President Roosevelt rejected proposals at the London World Economic Conference to collaborate on stabilizing international currency values.
Later, in 1935, the U.S. Senate approved a temporary Neutrality Act, which was expanded into a more comprehensive version in 1937.
Note
The growth of authoritarian regimes as a response to the Great Depression did not happen only in Europe, it was a global phenomenon.
In Paper 2 - Topic 10: Authoritarian States, we will see the case study of Juan Perón in Argentina as one of these examples in the Americas region.
2. The League of Nations Failed as a Peace Keeping Body
The League came into existence in January 1920, as part of the results of the Paris Peace Conference in Versailles.
In 1920 there were 42 countries in the League, and in 1933 (before Japan and Germany leave in that year), membership peaked to 60 countries.
As an aim, it strove for collective peace sustained by the goodwill and collaboration of member countries. Nevertheless, it had initial structural weaknesses:
The Assembly of the League had one representative from each country.
They could vote on general policies and budget, but for important decisions, such as the ones related to security, they needed a unanimous vote.
This means that decisions were difficult to achieve, because if only one country refused a proposal, it would not pass.
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Note
The Collapse of the League of Nations
The League of Nations was founded in 1920 to maintain peace through collective security, where member states pledged to defend each other against aggression.
However, the League faced significant challenges:
Absence of Major Powers: The United States never joined, and the Soviet Union and Germany were initially excluded.
Unanimity Requirement: Decisions required unanimous consent, making decisive action difficult.
Lack of Enforcement: The League had no military force and relied on economic sanctions, which were often ineffective.
DefinitionCollective SecurityA system in which states agree to take joint action against a state that attacks any one of them.
Example"The League's failure to act decisively in the Manchurian Crisis (1931) showed its weaknesses."
Analogy"It's like a club where everyone promises to help each other, but no one shows up when help is needed."
Common MistakeStudents often assume that the League of Nations was responsible for enforcing the Treaty of Versailles. In reality, the League had no direct authority over the treaty, which was enforced by the Allied powers.
