Weaknesses in the League's leadership

Absence of the USA
  • America refused to join League of Nations as it was afraid that it would be more involved into European conflicts. It entered diplomatic isolation
  • As the most powerful nation in the world was absent, the methods of collective security to settle international disputes was reduced


Absence of the USSR
  • Not invited to join League as its ideologies of communism limited cooperation with the other nations with differing ideologies
  • USSR did not want to join either as members such as Britain, France, and Japan fought against the revolutionaries (those supporting communism) in the Russian Civil War
  • By late 1920s, countries began to be more leninet and the USSR joined the Leage in 1934
  • USSR kicked out because it invaded Finland in Dec 1939


Departure of Japan
  • Original Member of the League
  • After critcised for invading Manchuria in 1933, it left


Departure of Italy
  • Original Member of the League
  • Upset because of sanctions imposed in its invasion of Abyssinia. Left in 1937


Priorities of Britain and France
  • Britain's primary interests were to continue its empire
  • France's primary priorities were with protection and defences against Germany
  • Both weakened by First World War


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