What role did the League of Nations play in the postwar order?

• A. It had no authority to address international disputes.
• B. It provided a framework for collective security and worked to resolve disputes, including overseeing some mandates.
• C. It immediately dissolved after WWI.
• D. It replaced national governments in multiple states.

Answer: (B)

The League of Nations was created to shape the postwar order around rules and collective action rather than battles alone. It provided a forum where nations could bring disputes, seek arbitration, and mobilize what was hoped to be a united, peaceful response to aggression through collective security and diplomacy. It also took on responsibilities over the mandate system, supervising the administration of former colonies and territories to guide them toward self-government under League oversight. These roles show the League’s aim: to bind states to agreed norms and to use international cooperation to resolve conflicts and manage territories, reducing the likelihood of war. Its effectiveness depended on member commitment and enforcement power, and while it achieved some successes and offered a framework for peaceful dispute resolution, it lacked its own armed force and faced the absence of key powers, limiting its ability to prevent aggression and ultimately contributing to its replacement after World War II by stronger international institutions.