Dismantling the League of Nations: The Quiet Death of an International Organization, 1945-8By Jane MumbyBloomsbury, 2023

Dismantling the League of Nations carefully traces the final chapter of the mega international organization, focusing on the complex process of its dissolution from 1945 to 1948. Mumby’s work is distinguished by its detailed archival research, pulling from official documents, personal correspondences, and interviews with key figures involved in the liquidation process. It offers an innovative perspective by emphasizing the human agency and bureaucratic intricacies involved, challenging the simplistic view that the League simply faded away. Instead, Mumby illustrates that the liquidation was a drawn-out, contested, and politically charged process, often marked by delays, internal conflicts, and strategic miscalculations.

Mumby’s core thesis posits that the dissolution of the League was neither swift nor straightforward but was an “elaborate and contested process,” shaped by both institutional inertia and individual agency. She contends that understanding this process offers vital lessons for contemporary international organizations, especially regarding organizational resilience, bureaucratic culture, and diplomatic negotiation.

Methodologically, Mumby employs a micro-historical approach, combining detailed archival research with oral histories and personal testimonies. This qualitative methodology offers a granular view of the liquidation process, revealing how bureaucrats, diplomats, and political leaders navigated the transition. Her approach challenges conventional narratives that focus solely on the political or legal dimensions, instead highlighting the mundane, often overlooked, bureaucratic realities that shape international institutional change.

This innovative methodology has broader implications for the discipline of international relations and institutional studies. By foregrounding human agency within bureaucratic processes, Mumby advances a nuanced........

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