Key Question 2 · 1919–1939
To what extent was the League of Nations a success?
Examine the League's structure, its successes in the 1920s, the crises of the 1930s and the structural weaknesses that ultimately caused its collapse.
Examiner Warnings — KQ2
Cambridge 0470 ER 2021–2025-
Do not conflate the League's commissions — the ILO (improving labour standards worldwide), Health Committee (combating disease and drug trafficking), Refugees Committee (resettling displaced persons after WWI), and Slavery Commission (working to abolish the slave trade) are four entirely separate bodies with distinct functions and achievements. Name the specific body and its specific outcome to score Level 3+. A vague reference to 'a League committee' cannot rise above Level 2.
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Balance across both decades — don't only write about the 1930s — the majority of answers focus exclusively on failures. A Level 5 answer must address genuine 1920s successes (Aaland Islands 1921, Upper Silesia 1921, Greek–Bulgarian border 1925, humanitarian work) AND 1930s failures (Manchuria 1931–33, Abyssinia 1935–36), then explain WHY the 1930s were harder: the Depression, the permanent absence of the USA, and Britain and France prioritising national interest over collective security.
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Analyse each case — don't list it — for every success or failure, explain WHY it matters. Don't just state 'the Manchurian Crisis was a failure' — explain that Japan faced no military response because Britain and France were unwilling to risk war in the Far East, demonstrating that collective security only functioned when the cost to members was low. That analysis is what separates Level 3 from Level 4–5.
Study resources for Key Question 2
Study Notes
Structured notes covering the League's design, its decade-by-decade record, and analysis of why it ultimately failed.
Read notes →Flashcards
Key terms, crises, dates and decisions — flip to test yourself. Filter by decade or shuffle the whole deck.
Start cards →Practice Quiz
Test your knowledge with exam-style multiple choice questions, each with a detailed explanation.
Take quiz →Model Answers
Annotated model answers at Level 3, 4 and 5 — see exactly what top marks look like and why they score.
View answers →In depth
Study a topic in detail
The League's Structure
Assembly, Council, PCIJ, Secretariat — plus what collective security actually meant and the key structural weaknesses Cambridge expects you to analyse.
Study structure →The Commissions
ILO, Health Committee, Refugees Committee, Slavery Commission — each treated as a separate topic, with the specific evidence Cambridge expects.
Study commissions →Successes & Failures in the 1920s
Aaland Islands, Upper Silesia, Vilna, Corfu — why the League worked when it did, and what its early failures revealed about collective security.
Study the 1920s →Collapse in the 1930s
Manchuria, Abyssinia, the Hoare-Laval Pact — why the League failed when it mattered most, and the FAILURE factors Cambridge expects you to analyse.
Study the 1930s →Exam Focus
Question types, mark scheme levels, the most common errors, what a Level 5 conclusion looks like, and past paper questions to practise with.
Prepare for the exam →Content overview
What you need to know
Structure of the League
- ✦ Assembly, Council and Secretariat
- ✦ Why the USA never joined
- ✦ The Permanent Court of Justice
- ✦ Humanitarian agencies and commissions
Successes in the 1920s
- ✦ Aaland Islands (1921)
- ✦ Upper Silesia (1921)
- ✦ Greek–Bulgarian border (1925)
- ✦ Humanitarian and social work
Crises of the 1930s
- ✦ Manchuria crisis 1931–33
- ✦ Abyssinia crisis 1935–36
- ✦ Failure of sanctions
- ✦ The Hoare–Laval Pact
Why the League Failed
- ✦ No army of its own
- ✦ Unanimous vote requirement
- ✦ Great Power self-interest
- ✦ The Great Depression's impact