Which organization was established as a result of the post–World War I settlement to promote international cooperation?

• A. League of Nations
• B. NATO
• C. United Nations
• D. European Union

Answer: (A)

After World War I, there was a strong push to create an international body that could promote diplomacy and collective security to prevent another large-scale war. The League of Nations was established in 1920 as part of the postwar settlement to provide that forum for cooperation, resolve disputes through discussion and arbitration, and apply collective measures when necessary. It represented a deliberate move toward international collaboration, including efforts toward disarmament and humanitarian work. While it marked a pioneering step in global cooperation, its effectiveness was limited by the absence or noncompliance of some major powers and by its inability to enforce its decisions, a lesson that later influenced the formation of the United Nations after World War II. NATO and the European Union, while important, came about in the context of the later 20th century and the postwar era, not directly from the post–World War I settlement.