This work investigates the inherent limitations of the League of Nations' administrative structure and the constraints placed upon its first Secretary-General, Sir Eric Drummond. James Barros, a scholar of international organizations, utilizes archival records and diplomatic correspondence to analyze how Drummond navigated the tension between international idealism and the national interests of member states. The book argues that the office of the Secretary-General was intentionally designed to be subordinate to the political will of the Great Powers, effectively rendering the position powerless in the face of geopolitical crises.

Historians and political scientists frequently cite this work as a foundational study on the institutional evolution of international organizations. Readers often note the academic density of the prose, which provides a rigorous look at the early challenges of multilateral diplomacy.