AMH 2010 Lecture Notes - Lecture 12: Collective Security, Dawes Plan, Locarno Treaties
Document Summary
Collective security is the idea that peace could be preserved by countries acting together collectively to prevent one country attacking another. If the leagues assembly could not find a resolution, the council could then apply collective security and as a group impose moral pressure then economic sanctions to force a country to comply. The absence of the usa seriously weakened the potential of the league to use collective security against aggression. The usa would have given the leagues economic sanctions real weight; however, the us absence undermined this one essential weapon. Russia further weakened the league because the league could then be seen as a club for capitalist" protecting and promoting interests at the expense of the exploited masses. Lastly, the exclusion of germany made the league of nations look like a victors club. The league truly needed germany so that it could work towards its aim of revising the treaty of versailles.
