Dismantling the League of Nations: The Quiet Death of an International Organization, 1945-8

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The League of Nations, one of the worlds first multi-function intergovernmental organisations, was also one of the first to undergo liquidation. This book unveils the last chapter in its story, showing how complex and time-consuming the end of this great experiment truly was. Starting with the signing of the Charter of the United Nations in 1945 - the death knell of the League - Mumby traces the closure process that followed. From the final meeting of the Assembly in April 1946, the transfer of assets and functions to the UN, the liquidation of the Secretariat, and the last acts of business through 1948, this book follows the story through the eyes of those who made it happen. It demonstrates why this process took longer than expected, highlights the importance of human agency in even the most bureaucratic of institutions, and points to the lingering impact of the League on international organisations today. Uncovering both the institutional and personal aspects of the League of Nations final chapter, this book furthers our understanding of this famous institution, shedding light on those that continue to dominate contemporary international relations, and exposing the unavoidable complexity of dismantling an intergovernmental organisation.

Author Bio

Jane Mumby is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Centre for the Study of Internationalism at Birkbeck, University of London, UK.