Discuss the reasons for the failure of the League of Nations by 1938.

Candidates will offer a considered and balanced review of the reasons for the League’s weakness by 1938. Candidates may adopt a chronological or thematic approach. Some may argue that the League was undermined from the outset or that world events during the 1930s overwhelmed it. Areas for discussion could include: the membership of the League, with several important powers not joining or leaving it at key points. Slow decision-making processes may also be discussed, as well as the fact that the League was often bypassed, thus undermining its effectiveness (Conference of Ambassadors). The League’s weak response to various crises and the reasons for this could also be discussed. Candidates may argue that the League was designed to function effectively in an international context that sought peace, but that the 1930s were too unstable and too dominated by aggressive powers for it to be effective.