An international anomaly : colonial accession to the League of Nations /
Gidney, Thomas,
An international anomaly : colonial accession to the League of Nations / Thomas Gidney. - 1 online resource (xv, 299 pages) : digital, PDF file(s). - Global and international history . - Global and international history. .
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 24 Mar 2025).
Open Access.
It is often assumed that only sovereign states can join the United Nations. But this was not always the case. At the founding of the United Nations, a loophole drafted by British statesmen in its predecessor organisation, the League of Nations, was carried forward, allowing colonies to accede as member-states. Colonies such as India, Ireland, Egypt, and many more were afforded a tokenistic representation at the League in Geneva during the interwar years, decades before their independence. Thomas Gidney unites three geographically distinct case studies to demonstrate the evolution of Britain's policy from a range of different viewpoints, exploring how this policy came into being, and why it was only exploited by the British Empire. He argues that this membership shaped colonial norms around sovereignty and international recognition in the interwar period and to the present day. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
9781009584432 (ebook)
League of Nations--Membership--History.
Imperialism--History--20th century.
Sovereignty--History--20th century.
World politics--1919-1932.
Great Britain--Colonies--History--20th century.
Egypt--History--British occupation, 1882-1936.
Ireland--History--War of Independence, 1919-1921.
India--History--British occupation, 1765-1947.
JZ4871 / .G53 2025
341.22/309171241
An international anomaly : colonial accession to the League of Nations / Thomas Gidney. - 1 online resource (xv, 299 pages) : digital, PDF file(s). - Global and international history . - Global and international history. .
Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 24 Mar 2025).
Open Access.
It is often assumed that only sovereign states can join the United Nations. But this was not always the case. At the founding of the United Nations, a loophole drafted by British statesmen in its predecessor organisation, the League of Nations, was carried forward, allowing colonies to accede as member-states. Colonies such as India, Ireland, Egypt, and many more were afforded a tokenistic representation at the League in Geneva during the interwar years, decades before their independence. Thomas Gidney unites three geographically distinct case studies to demonstrate the evolution of Britain's policy from a range of different viewpoints, exploring how this policy came into being, and why it was only exploited by the British Empire. He argues that this membership shaped colonial norms around sovereignty and international recognition in the interwar period and to the present day. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
9781009584432 (ebook)
League of Nations--Membership--History.
Imperialism--History--20th century.
Sovereignty--History--20th century.
World politics--1919-1932.
Great Britain--Colonies--History--20th century.
Egypt--History--British occupation, 1882-1936.
Ireland--History--War of Independence, 1919-1921.
India--History--British occupation, 1765-1947.
JZ4871 / .G53 2025
341.22/309171241