From League of Nations to United Nations: Multilateralism Must Adapt to the Times

Back in 1919, the world was in disarray, reeling from the devastating impact of World War I. It was in this dark moment that the victorious Allied Powers, comprising the US, UK, France, Russia, and Italy, convened in Paris to ponder a solution to promote global peace and cooperation. Thus, the League of Nations was established, laying the foundation for what would eventually become the United Nations.

However, the League's noble mission to promote international harmony came crashing down as it failed to prevent the calamitous World War II, leading to its eventual collapse on April 20, 1946. The reasons for its downfall were many, but chief among them was the lack of equal representation among nations.

The League of Nations was plagued by contradictions right from the start. Major powers like the US shunned the institution due to opposition from Congress and the public, while the Soviet Union was initially excluded from the League owing to its communist ideology.

Moreover, the League was widely seen as a Western-centric institution, dominated by the likes of Britain, France, and Italy, with little support from the rest of the world. Non-Western nations, especially those in Asia and Africa, were either not members or were excluded from decision-making processes within the organisation.

The League's failure to tackle colonialism and the unequal distribution of power among its members was another nail in the coffin. Non-Western nations viewed the League as a Western-dominated body that turned a blind eye to the oppressive colonial system that kept them subjugated.

All these factors eventually culminated in the League's undoing, as it failed to address major international issues and promote collective security. Today, we look back at the rise and fall of the League of Nations as a cautionary tale of how global cooperation can falter without the right mix of representation, inclusivity, and equal participation.

About 80 years later, The United Nations, an institution established to promote global cooperation, is facing a crisis of legitimacy. With the Security Council's unequal representation of non-permanent members, major powers continue to dominate smaller ones. The world is plagued by nuclear threats, and ongoing conflicts such as the Russia-Ukraine war, the Syrian Civil War, the Iraq War, and the looming Sino-American war. As a result, nations are starting to question the efficacy of the United Nations, including India.

In fact, India's Permanent Representative recently launched a scathing attack on the U.N. system, calling the U.N. Charter "anachronistic" and accusing it of failing to handle the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, terrorism, and climate change. Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj made her remarks at a session called by Russia, which aimed to explore how multilateralism could be made effective "by defending the U.N. Charter."

As the world undergoes dramatic changes, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) remains unaltered, leaving India and other nations calling for reforms. Despite being the 5th largest economy and now the most populated one too, India's representation in the UNSC remains uncertain. The UN Charter prioritises the ability to promote international peace and security over regional parity, but advocates argue for equal representation from diverse regions. Many times, the legitimacy of the permanent members with veto power, including Russia, has been challenged. Republicans in the US have even deemed Russia's seat irrelevant since it took the Soviet Union's spot without challenge. With concerns about the abuse of veto power, the question remains whether multilateralism can effectively operate in a body that favours the victors of generations past.

The call for a more democratic and relevant United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has grown louder, with the General Assembly President stressing that any reform must reflect the realities of the 21st century. To achieve this, discussions among member states on how to integrate principles of democracy and representation in the pursuit of a more democratic UNSC are critical. One proposal to increase democratic participation is to involve civil society organisations in the UN's decision-making processes, providing a diverse range of perspectives and interests. Another suggestion is to establish alternative financing mechanisms, such as a global tax on carbon emissions or a financial transaction tax, to reduce reliance on assessed contributions and ensure all countries contribute based on their capacity to pay.

The Indian envoy has warned that ‘multilateral organisations rarely die but instead fade into irrelevance’. The League of Nations serves as a prime example of failure to create consensus and force obedience. As the difference between the UN and the League of Nations appears to shrink, we must recognize that history never repeats itself but often rhymes with the past. Context continually evolves, but the need for a dynamic and effective UNSC remains crucial for global peace and security.

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