OCR · GCSE · History
Course version: J410 · Version from Mar 2026
The changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation…
Full specification wording
International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: Successes and failures of internationalist approaches in the 1920s and the retreat to nationalism in the 1930s
This topic asks you to weigh internationalism in the 1920s against the turn to nationalism in the 1930s.
Checked against the OCR J410 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 1 of 4
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic asks you to weigh internationalism in the 1920s against the turn to nationalism in the 1930s. Internationalist approaches included the League of Nations settling some disputes and the Dawes Plan 1924, Locarno 1925, Kellogg-Briand 1928 and Young Plan 1929 easing tensions. Their limits showed when the League failed over Manchuria in 1931 and Abyssinia in 1935, and when disarmament stalled. In the 1930s states retreated to nationalism: Japan invaded Manchuria, Italy invaded Abyssinia, Germany rearmed and remilitarised the Rhineland in 1936, and powers pursued self-interest. A strong answer names a specific approach, states whether it succeeded or failed, and gives evidence for the judgement.
What earns the marks
- Identifies a specific internationalist approach from the 1920s, such as the League of Nations, the Dawes Plan 1924 or Locarno 1925.
- Explains whether that approach succeeded or failed, supporting the judgement with named evidence such as a settled dispute or a collapsed agreement.
- Links the retreat to nationalism in the 1930s to named events such as the Manchurian or Abyssinian crises or German remilitarisation.
- Distinguishes between short-term co-operation in the 1920s and the breakdown of that co-operation in the 1930s.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treats the League of Nations as wholly successful or wholly failed.
Put it right: Recognise that it settled some disputes in the 1920s but could not stop major aggression in the 1930s.
Dates the retreat to nationalism to the 1920s.
Put it right: Place it in the 1930s with events such as Manchuria 1931 and Abyssinia 1935.
Confuses the Dawes Plan 1924 with the Young Plan 1929.
Put it right: Keep each agreement and its year distinct.
Assumes all internationalist approaches failed equally.
Put it right: Weigh each approach on its own evidence.
Exam tips
- Read the question stem carefully to see whether it asks about the 1920s, the 1930s or both.
- Anchor each option to a named event or agreement with its date before choosing.
- Eliminate options that reverse the chronology or overstate success or failure.
Try the lesson
The start of the International Relations: the changing international order 1918–1975 - Conflict and co-operation 1918–1939: Successes and failures of internationalist approaches in the 1920s and the retreat to nationalism in the 1930s lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which country refused to join the League of Nations, weakening the organisation from the start?
Listen
This topic asks you to weigh internationalism in the 1920s against the turn to nationalism in the 1930s. Internationalist approaches included the League of Nations settling some disputes and the Dawes Plan 1924, Locarno 1925, Kellogg-Briand 1928 and Young Plan 1929 easing tensions. Their limits showed when the League failed over Manchuria in 1931 and Abyssinia in 1935, and when disarmament stalled. In the 1930s states retreated to nationalism: Japan invaded Manchuria, Italy invaded Abyssinia, Germany rearmed and remilitarised the Rhineland in 1936, and powers pursued self-interest. A strong answer names a specific approach, states whether it succeeded or failed, and gives evidence for the judgement. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Identifies a specific internationalist approach from the 1920s, such as the League of Nations, the Dawes Plan 1924 or Locarno 1925. Explains whether that approach succeeded or failed, supporting the judgement with named evidence such as a settled dispute or a collapsed agreement. Links the retreat to nationalism in the 1930s to named events such as the Manchurian or Abyssinian crises or German remilitarisation. Distinguishes between short-term co-operation in the 1920s and the breakdown of that co-operation in the 1930s. Exam tip: Read the question stem carefully to see whether it asks about the 1920s, the 1930s or both.
See it
Put the events in order
Put these events in the order they happened, earliest first.
- 1. Kellogg-Briand eased tensions between powers
- 2. Young Plan eased tensions between powers
- 3. League failed over Manchuria
- 4. Locarno eased tensions between powers
- 5. Dawes Plan eased tensions between powers
- 6. Germany remilitarised the Rhineland
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Internationalism in the 1920s
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The League of Nations
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
International agreements and their limits
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
The retreat to nationalism in the 1930s
Try answering aloud or in your head before turning the card.
See every definition
- Internationalism in the 1920s
- Approaches including the League of Nations settling some disputes and agreements such as the Dawes Plan 1924, Locarno 1925, Kellogg-Briand 1928 and Young Plan 1929 easing tensions.
- The League of Nations
- Settled some disputes in the 1920s but failed over Manchuria in 1931 and Abyssinia in 1935, so it was neither wholly successful nor wholly failed.
- International agreements and their limits
- The Dawes Plan 1924, Locarno 1925, Kellogg-Briand 1928 and Young Plan 1929 eased tensions, but their limits showed when disarmament stalled.
- The retreat to nationalism in the 1930s
- Japan invaded Manchuria, Italy invaded Abyssinia, Germany rearmed and remilitarised the Rhineland in 1936, and powers pursued self-interest.
Label the diagram
Some boxes have lost their names. Pick the right name for each number.
1Box 1
2Box 2
3Box 3
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