Beyond the league of nations: public debates on international relations in Czechoslovakia during the interwar period

Abstract

The founding of the Czechoslovak Republic in 1918 was, at its core, an international endeavour -campaigned for during wartime exile in Europe and the USA and internationally confirmed during the Paris Peace Treaty- and this international orientation continued throughout the interwar period. International security mechanisms were put in place, most notably through the founding of the Little Entente as well as through a strong involvement in the League of Nations. Beyond these ties to international organizations that were to guarantee the country’s safety, this chapter traces examples of worldwide outreach and public debates pertaining to the global standing of Czechoslovakia, focusing on its relations with countries in Latin America, Africa, and Asia. These world regions played a significant role in Czechoslovakia’s quest for a global diplomacy, a global economy, or even the founding of Czechoslovak colonies, and highlight the country’s orientation far beyond the Central European scope.