The End of Collective Security
What is Collective Security?
Collective security
Collective security is the idea that nations work together to maintain peace by deterring or punishing aggression.
- It relies on the principle that an attack on one member is an attack on all, encouraging cooperation to prevent conflict.
- The League of Nations, founded after World War I, was the first major attempt to implement this system globally.
The League of Nations was established in 1920 as part of the Treaty of Versailles, with the goal of preventing another catastrophic war through diplomacy and collective action.
Why Did Collective Security Fail?
1. Lack of Universal Membership
- Key powers like the United States never joined the League, weakening its authority.
- Major nations such as Germany, Japan, and Italy withdrew when it suited their interests.
The League imposed sanctions on Italy during the Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936), but these were limited and excluded critical resources like oil, rendering them ineffective.
2. Conflicting National Interests
- Nations prioritized their own interests over collective action.
- Britain and France, the League's leading members, were often unwilling to take decisive action that might lead to war.
- It is a common misconception that the League of Nations had its own military force.
- In reality, it relied entirely on member states to provide troops, which rarely happened due to conflicting national interests.
3. Rise of Aggressive Nationalism
- The 1930s saw the rise of militaristic regimes in Germany, Italy, and Japan, which rejected international cooperation.
- These regimes pursued expansionist policies, directly challenging the principles of collective security.
When analyzing the failure of collective security, consider the interplay between structural weaknesses (e.g., lack of enforcement mechanisms) and external pressures (e.g., the rise of aggressive nationalism).
Key Events Undermining Collective Security
1. The Manchurian Crisis (1931-1933)
- Japan invaded Manchuria in 1931, establishing the puppet state of Manchukuo.
- The League condemned the invasion but failed to take effective action.
- Japan withdrew from the League in 1933, exposing its inability to enforce decisions.
In 1932, the League's Lytton Report condemned Japan's actions but took over a year to produce, highlighting the League's slow response.
2. The Abyssinian Crisis (1935-1936)
- Italy invaded Abyssinia (Ethiopia) in 1935, seeking to expand its empire.
- The League imposed sanctions but excluded critical resources like oil.
- The Hoare-Laval Pact, a secret agreement between Britain and France to appease Italy, further undermined the League's credibility.
The Abyssinian Crisis marked a turning point in international relations, as it drove Italy closer to Nazi Germany and weakened the Stresa Front, an alliance between Britain, France, and Italy aimed at containing German aggression.
3. The Remilitarization of the Rhineland (1936)
- Germany violated the Treaty of Versailles by remilitarizing the Rhineland.
- The League took no action, and Britain and France chose appeasement over confrontation.
