The league of nation was first worldwide inter-governmental organization, founded on 10 January 1920 at the Paris Peace Conference after the First World War ended. After disastrous first world war in which millions of lives were lost, under the growing need for peace and stability President Woodrow Wilson suggested his Fourteen Points plans in 1918.
The Covenant contained the main principle for which League of Nations was built. Its primary function was to prevent international conflicts and achieve international peace and security. Its headquarters was in Geneva, Switzerland.
The League of Nations was made up of- The Assembly, The Council and the Permanent Secretariat. The Council consisted of four permanent members (Italy, Japan, Great Britain and France) and four non-permanent members. It also had independent organizations like The Permanent Court of International Justice and the International Labor Organization (ILO).
During its active years it successfully resolved crises and boosted world economy. Some of the examples are Aaland Island disputes, Upper Silesia dispute between Poland and Germany, Mosul dispute, Greece and Bulgaria dispute. As the first inter-governmental organization it certainly left a mark in the history but despites its achievements, the League of Nations was a failure as it failed to prevent Second World War.
In 1932 when Japan conquered Manchuria the League of Nations objected but Japan as a permanent member it could do nothing. Britain and France another two permanent members ignored the League of Nations multiple times pursuing their own interest which became the major reason for downfall. Its internal corruptions was widespread.
UNITED NATIONS (UN)
After end of Second World War, The Big three (Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Soviet Leader Joseph Stalin) and China met in Dumbarton Oaks Conference 1944 and later in Yalta Conference which finalized the Charter of UN and presented in San Fransisco Conference. Thus, The League of Nations ceased operation on 18 April 1946 and was converted into United Nations (UN).
At United Nations Conference on International Organization (UNCIO) also known as San Franscisco Conference held on 25 April 1945, fifty Allied states gathered for the drafting was UN charter. The charter was finalized on 26 June 1945.
United Nations officially began on October 24, 1945 with the aim of maintaining international peace and security, protect human rights and deliver humanitarian aid as mentioned in the charter. Its main headquarter is in New York City, and others in Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague.
Principle Organs of the United Nations are-United Nation General Assembly, United Nations Secretariat, International Court of Justice, United Nations Security Council, United Nations Economic and Social Council and United Nations Trusteeship Council (No longer active).
It has 193 sovereign member states, five permanent members with veto powers (China, United States, United Kingdom, Russia and France) and ten non-permanent members who are elected every two years by the General Assembly. Veto power gives countries right to reject a resolution or prevent it from passing.
The Security Council is the most important organ of the United Nations.
ANALYSIS OF UNITED NATIONS AND SIMILARTIES WITH LEAGUE OF NATIONS
In 1945 at the time of the formation of United Nations the devastation of the war led the winner Allies Powers to set up an organization to maintain peace after failure of League of Nation. It was a alliance of the countries standing against Germany, Itay and Japan, not all the countries which can be seen as countries with similar interest grouping together.
During those times the relationship between the permanent members were good. At the end of Cold War the political sphere shifted, many nations became independent emerging as Third World Countries and the relationship between all the permanent members of UN changed.
The veto power held by the five nations make the United Nations unequal. The power imbalance because of nations like Britain, France was in the League of Nations still continues in the UN because of veto system. The veto power is used by the members for their own political interest rather than humanity’s interest. Most of the times it is highly unlikely that the five permanent nations will stand together because of the conflicting interest and the race to beat each other.
All the five countries have used their veto power at least once, with Russia being the most and France the least.
United Nations had failed to adapt to the changing geo-political situation of the world. Rather than saying it no longer effective it should be described as selectively effective. It has failed to act on many occasions like Rwanda Genocide in 1993 where UN peacekeepers withdrew once the mass slaughter began, its failed action in Sri Lanka Civil War 2008, no action against Taliban in Afghanistan, etc.
Another major disadvantage of UN which was in the Leagues of Nation as well was the lack of military or standing army of its own. It has to solely rely on its member states for the military and in situation where the countries are no willing to provide the army, UN will fall helpless.
United Nations is better version of the League of Nations. It is still needed because it is the only organization recognized all the countries in the world and acts as a table for diplomacy but for it be actually useful the UN needs to remove veto system or give more nations a veto power.
