• Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

The organisation of the League of Nations was seen as a reason for its failure to maintain peace - How far was the organisation of the United Nations more likely to succeed in keeping world peace?

Extracts from this document...


GCSE HISTORY, UNITED NATIONS COURSEWORK The organisation of the League of Nations was seen as a reason for its failure to maintain peace. How far was the organisation of the United Nations more likely to succeed in keeping world peace? In this essay I am going to explain how far the United Nations is more likely to succeed in keeping world peace in comparison to the League of Nations. Both organisations are similar in what their aims are but there are a few key differences that separate the two in terms of successfulness and effectiveness. In the United Nations there are 189 Members, this contains many important nations who were not members of the League of Nations such as the USA, Russia and Germany. Having more powerful nations in the UN makes it a stronger organisation that can deal with things much more effectively in a shorter amount of time. The League of Nations looked weaker; this was because they didn't have so many powers as members. ...read more.


When a complaint concerning a threat to peace is brought before it, the Council's first action is usually to recommend to the parties to try to reach agreement by peaceful means. If this has no effect the council may launch an investigation to bring justice. When a dispute leads to fighting, the Council's first concern is to bring it to an end as soon as possible. On many occasions, the Council has issued cease-fire directives that have been instrumental in preventing wider hostilities. It also sends United Nations peacekeeping forces to help reduce tensions in troubled areas, keep opposing forces apart and create conditions of calm in which peaceful settlements may be sought. The Council may decide on enforcement measures, economic sanctions (such as trade embargoes) or collective military action. Evidence of the UN taking such actions was in the Middle East on Iraq when trouble arose with the bordering nation Kuwait. Each Council member has one vote. Decisions on procedural matters are made by an affirmative vote of at least nine of the 15 members. ...read more.


Although the United Nations looks to have been more successful than the League of Nations, it isn't perfect. The organisation was not able do anything with incidences in the Cold war such as the Cuban Missile Crises or overcome conflicts of interests involving world powers and weapons of mass destruction. The United Nations ability to impose legislation involving their army has aided them; this is evident from Desert Storm that was a success but didn't halt Sadam Hussein from causing more conflict later on which shows the UN's weakness. The United Nations has improved in terms of success as time goes on. After the Cold War many areas and situations have been improved such as in the Balkans where both the Bosnia and Kosovo crises have been resolved much due to UN presence. The United Nations has been more effective and more able to deal with situations of conflict than the League of Nations; this is due mainly because of its members. The League of Nations was unsuccessful because of its inability to deal with larger nations. The United Nations is those larger nations; this is why it is more successful. ...read more.

The above preview is unformatted text


Found what you're looking for?

  • Start learning 29% faster today
  • 150,000+ documents available
  • Just £6.99 a month

Not the one? Search for your essay title...
  • Join over 1.2 million students every month
  • Accelerate your learning by 29%
  • Unlimited access from just £6.99 per month

See related essaysSee related essays

Related AS and A Level European Union essays

  1. How successful was the League of Nations in the 1920's?

    Also, the idea of disarmament did not work because if the whole League fell apart, smaller unstable countries would not be able to defend themselves against attack. Except for its social reforms, I would say the League of Nations was mostly a failure.

  2. The EU's CFSP and the Iraq Crisis: A Catalyst for Change?

    As this comment was made without Powell's knowledge, while Powell was having lunch with France's UN Ambassador, it effectively angered and isolated Powell, thwarting his attempts at consultative agreement. From then on, it was clear that France would be intransigent and that the US would act unilaterally.

  1. The Importance of the Cyprus Issue in terms of the Accomplishment of the ESDP

    was more visible as NATO was representing the spirit of the western international community during the Cold War more than the EU.6 As long as Turkey felt the support of NATO, for whom Turkey's commitment to the Western camp was vital, it did not feel sidelined or entered into a

  2. United Nations: &amp;quot;In Bed With The Devil&amp;quot;.

    And we need to challenge the actions of the United Nations and The European Union in their implementation of UN Resolution 1244(1999). The EU and UNMIK have made their position clear that they will control the foreign affairs of Kosova, and that their goal is for us to only have "substantial autonomy" under Serbia.

  1. Managing Work Team Conflict: Assessment and Preventative Strategies

    escalation, resulting in low morale and productivity (Tjosvold, 1986; Tjosvold, 1989; Tjosvold, Dann, & Wong, 1992). For example, salespeople recognize the importance of working with others in the company to provide quality service to their customers. Since one person does not have all of the authority, resources, or information to

  2. In the 1920&amp;amp;acute;s, the League of Nations was not as successful as it should ...

    Secondly, something that is very linked to the first reason, is that Britain and France, which were the main members now with the absence of the USA, didn't care as much as Woodrow Wilson to promote peace. I am not saying that they preferred war, but if their country was safe, and not being attacked by anybody, they were "happy".

  • Over 160,000 pieces
    of student written work
  • Annotated by
    experienced teachers
  • Ideas and feedback to
    improve your own work