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2.4: Interwar Period- Expansion and Challenges

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    291393
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    During the interwar period, the study of International Relations expanded significantly. However, the discipline faced numerous challenges, including skepticism about the effectiveness of international institutions and the rise of authoritarian regimes that threatened global stability.

    • Rise of Academic Journals and Publications: The interwar years saw the emergence of academic journals and publications dedicated to the study of IR. These platforms provided a space for scholars to debate and discuss the pressing issues of the day, including the effectiveness of the League of Nations, the role of diplomacy, and the impact of economic policies on international stability.
    • Global Conferences and Diplomatic Efforts: In an effort to prevent another world war, various global conferences were held during the interwar period, focusing on disarmament, economic cooperation, and conflict resolution. These conferences, although not always successful, were significant in shaping the direction of IR studies, as scholars analyzed their outcomes and the broader implications for international peace.
    • Challenges to International Cooperation: Despite the efforts to maintain peace, the rise of fascism, militarism, and economic instability in the 1930s posed significant challenges to international cooperation. The failure of the League of Nations to prevent the aggression of Axis powers led to increased criticism and a re-evaluation of the principles guiding international relations at the time.

    2.4: Interwar Period- Expansion and Challenges is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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