The end of the second World War (WW2), and the wholesale devastation it inflicted, propelled the world to challenge itself to ensure that such massive waste of human lives and world investment never re-occurred.
The war consumed more than sixty million lives. It was caused by German expansionism and racial supremacy mission.
The war consumed more than sixty million lives. It was caused by German expansionism and racial supremacy mission.
That the war ensued despite the 1918 resolution that created the League of Nations, made the United States and other countries to critically assess the failure of the League, and to reposition it to ensure world peace and security.
By the time the collective security purpose of the League could not stop the world from descending into another horrendous era of war, the idea of global governance was already well established, but the absence of the United States, then already a leading power, in the workings of the global institution ensured it lacked the required balance.
By the time the collective security purpose of the League could not stop the world from descending into another horrendous era of war, the idea of global governance was already well established, but the absence of the United States, then already a leading power, in the workings of the global institution ensured it lacked the required balance.
The idea of collective security in the covenant of the League was to deter countries from threatening the peace of the world especially Europe, but this did not stop Germany, the prime target from re-arming itself. Germany’s attitude became more evident in the light of the spirit of pacifism promoted in Europe. The policy of appeasement (pacifism) emboldened Germany, Italy - countries that lost out in the peace settle of Versailles, to militarily and politically re-strategize to execute their global agenda.
This was how Adolf Hitter and Benito Mussolini emerged in Germany and Italy respectively.
This was how Adolf Hitter and Benito Mussolini emerged in Germany and Italy respectively.
By the terms of the settlement, Germany was required to follow a strict regime of disarmament provisions while reducing the size of its army. Germany was also ordered to abandon the idea of possessing submarines, tanks and air force.
It was the responsibility of the League of Nations to ensure full compliance.
It was the responsibility of the League of Nations to ensure full compliance.
By the 1930s, the League could not stop a re-emerging Germany from re-arming itself. It also failed to react appropriately to the Japanese invasion of Manchuria in 1931. The second Italo-Ethiopian War in 1935 was another event that exposed the weaknesses of the league. Capitalizing on the league loopholes, Japan invaded China in 1937 and Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Germany attacked Poland in 1939.
The fall out of this act of aggression was the re-entrant of the United States into the centre of world politics to check the rising power of the Axis forces. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour in 1941, Washington launched what I referred to as the second phase of its foreign policy, the first phase being the period of independence to the beginning of WW2. The third and present phase starts from 1991- the end of the cold war.
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