New Books Network Thomas Gidney, "An International Anomaly: Colonial Accession to the League of Nations" (Cambridge UP, 2024)
Dec 18, 2025
Thomas Gidney, a postdoctoral researcher in international history, dives into the surprising history of colonial membership in the League of Nations. He reveals how this anomaly challenged assumptions about sovereignty by allowing colonies like India and Ireland a voice long before independence. Gidney discusses the implications of membership for colonial politics, the contrasting perspectives of nationalists, and how these early representations shaped modern discussions about colonialism and sovereignty. His insights link historical practices to contemporary issues in international relations.
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How The Project Began In Delhi
- Thomas Gidney discovered India's League membership while on exchange at Jawaharlal Nehru University and used it as his PhD topic.
- That finding prompted a wider study comparing India, Ireland, and Egypt to explain British imperial policy.
League Membership Broke The Sovereignty-Membership Link
- British policy allowed colonies like India to join the League of Nations, breaking the later assumed link between sovereignty and membership.
- This anomaly shows membership could be symbolic, used to signal constitutional development without real autonomy.
Imperial Politics Shaped Representation
- Wartime debates between 'Imperial Federalists' and 'Imperial Confederalists' shaped ideas of colonial representation and autonomy.
- These imperial discussions fed directly into decisions about who Britain would allow to represent colonies internationally.