Why couldnt the league of nations protect Ethiopia from italian invasion
The League of Nations was unable to protect Ethiopia from Italian invasion for several key reasons:
1. Lack of Effective Military Power: While the League of Nations condemned the Italian invasion of Ethiopia and imposed economic sanctions on Italy, it did not possess a strong collective military force to actively defend Ethiopia. The League relied on the member states to contribute their own military forces, which many were reluctant to do.
2. Self-Interest of Member Nations: Some member nations had their own strategic and economic interests in maintaining good relations with Italy, a prominent European power. These nations hesitated to take strong actions against Italy, prioritizing their own national interests over the collective defense of Ethiopia.
3. Weaknesses in League's Structure: The decision-making process in the League of Nations, based on unanimous consensus, made it difficult to take swift and decisive action. This allowed time for Italy to continue its invasion and seize control of Ethiopian territory before any meaningful response could be mounted.
4. Absence of Major Powers: Some major powers like the United States and the Soviet Union chose not to join the League of Nations or actively participate in its affairs, significantly weakening its ability to enforce collective security.
Overall, the League of Nations' lack of military power, member nations' self-interest, structural weaknesses, and the absence of major powers undermined its ability to effectively protect Ethiopia from Italian invasion. This failure ultimately highlighted the limitations and shortcomings of the League as a reliable international peacekeeping organization.