Security, Defence and Neutrality: The Irish Dilemma

Security and defence has been a somewhat neglected area of study within Irish foreign policy. Only neutrality has gathered significant attention . The aim of this chapter is to place security and d efence policy within the broader context of Irish foreign policy, to assess its roots and its character and to identify the challenges that it faces. In doing so, it will also look at Irish neutrality and how debates surrounding this concept have impacted the conduct of security and defence policy. Finally, it will illustrate how Irish policy has made a lasting and significant impact upon international security in the area of disarmament and nuclear non-proliferation.