The predecessor to the United Nations was the League of Nations, which was formed after World War I with the aim of promoting international cooperation, peace, and security. The League's primary goal was to prevent another world war, but it failed to achieve this task and ultimately collapsed when the Second World War broke out. The United Nations was established after the war in 1945, with a renewed commitment to maintaining international peace and security and promoting sustainable development, human rights, and social progress. Unlike the League of Nations, the United Nations has been more successful in achieving its goals, and it remains a critical international institution to this day, with 193 member states.