The United Nations was founded in 1945 as an international organization aimed to provide a place for international dialogue, facilitate cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights, to stop wars, and to promote world peace. It is the successor to the League of Nations, which was widely considered to have been ineffective in its role as an international governing body, which led to World War II. Its members include almost every independent nation in the world. Its headquarters are based in New York City, USA.