MYP History International Conflict Resolution Notes

International Conflict Resolution: How Do Organisations Try to Stop the World From Fighting?

1. International conflict resolution is basically the diplomatic version of being the friend who jumps between two people shouting “Okay, breathe… let’s sort this out like adults.”
2. Modern organisations, the League of Nations, United Nations, Allied conferences, try to keep global peace using tools like:
   1. Negotiation
   2. Peacekeeping
   3. Sanctions
   4. Occasionally the very persuasive power of collective side-eye

Peacemaking After World War I

The Treaty of Versailles (1919)

1. The diplomatic equivalent of saying, “Germany, this is entirely your fault and you’re grounded forever.”
2. Main Terms:
   1. War guilt clause (Germany accepts responsibility).
   2. Massive reparations.
   3. Military restrictions (tiny army, no air force).
   4. Loss of territory and colonies.
   5. Formation of the League of Nations.
3. Intended Impact:
   1. Prevent Germany from ever threatening Europe again.
4. Actual Impact:
   1. Germans felt humiliated and betrayed.
   2. Reparations tanked the economy.
   3. Extremist groups thrived by promising to undo the treaty.
   4. The League had no enforcement power, making it a peace organisation with the authority of a polite suggestion.

Peacemaking After World War II

1. After the disaster of the interwar years, the Allies realised that punishing a country into oblivion wasn’t exactly a recipe for peace.