Multiple hierarchies within the ‘civilized’ world: country ranking and regional power in the International Labour Organization (1919–1922)

There is significant and growing interest in better understanding hierarchy the international system, especially relation to intergovernmental organizations (IGOs). Acknowledging existence of a system implies that there are different social positions (higher/lower), but not why or how specific differentiation came be used, nor it structured, contested resolved. This article interested contributing these questions, particularly context heterarchical settings (where more than one present), which also fully understood. It uses first years International Labour Organization (ILO) as springboard reflect upon within so-called ‘civilized’ group countries immediate aftermath World War I. IGO was (1) introduce statistical data rank countries, with criteria designed ‘objectively’ gauge industrial power (2) establish geographic allocation its main decision-making body’s structure. Non-European non-great powers had critical roles establishing novel ways dealing hierarchies their institutional design IGOs. One hundred later, discussions still resonate several ongoing cases contestation IGOs over ‘fair’ hierarchical structures.