Above: ICRC Headquarters. Home page: Palais Wilson, former home of the League of Nations.

In the wake of World War I in 1919, the League of Nations was established in Geneva to maintain world peace. The city was already home to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) since 1863 and the International Labour Organization, making it a capital of international affairs much like it remains today. In 2008, Professor Davide Rodogno, with Sandrine Kott, Professor at the University of Geneva, and Daniel Palmieri of the ICRC, created a unique network in Geneva to study the history of these and the numerous other organisations in the city.

“Contrary to other subjects of historical enquiry, which have national associations of historians, there was no such thing for international organisations”, said Professor Rodogno. “The History of International Organisations Network is a one of a kind forum that includes scholars, practitioners, archivists from international and non-governmental organisations and from the private and public sector.”

The network provides the scholarly community of Geneva with an excellent opportunity to exchange information on on-going projects and to have access to the top-notch historians it hosts in its seminar series. In addition, several research initiatives have blossomed from the network. Professor Rodogno is currently writing a book on the World Health Organization with Thomas David (University of Lausanne) and he will convene, with Sandrine Kott, the November 2013 Pierre du Bois Foundation conference on the history of international organisations.

The network’s home in Geneva is the ideal location to study international organisations. “All scholars, from PhD students beginning their thesis to prominent scholars, must come to Geneva when they carry out research on international organisations. We capitalise on this and it strengthens our network; we currently have over 180 members,” said Professor Rodogno. Last but not least, he said, the Network is evidence of fruitful collaboration between the Institute, the University of Geneva, and local international organisations.

More information on the History of International Organisations Network is available on its website, which was funded by the Swiss Network for International Studies.

More information on Professor Rodogno is available in is online profile.