The Political and Military Alliances and Coalition Relations Before and During the Second World War: Nature, Modality and Peculiarities

The problem of allied cooperation and formation of multilateral coalitions takes an important place in the diplomatic history of 1920-1940s’. This article presents an attempt to analyze the structural and motivational factors that influenced the establishment and functioning of the alliance and coalition relations between the leading powers of the time. In the context of multipolar international system peace and stability could be preserved by arrangements of collective security against aggression and hegemonism, or by the balance of power and effective alliances. None of these structural mechanisms could prevent the aggression of the Berlin-Rome “axis” created in the mid-1930s. The political and ideological contradictions and attempts to appease the Nazi regime at the expense of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe led to the defeat of the Anglo-French coalition in the first phase of the Second World War. The creation of the “second” anti-Hitler coalition was based on the common threat to humanity from the aggressive bloc. However, both the creation of the League of Nations and the United Nations Organization later failed to create effective mechanisms able to ensure collective defense against aggression and violation of international peace.