ABSTRACT
This chapter explains the concept of classical neutrality and the different polemicized variants. It describes applications by contemporary European neutrals. The chapter explores the options for neutrality as a policy in Europe, and as a concept in general. Neutrality may be a legal status, an attitude to international relations, or a foreign policy dogma in peacetime; in wartime, it is a doctrine that governs all dimensions of foreign relations. The character of neutrality involves national sovereignty, autonomous decision-making processes, peace-making and humanitarian activities, foreign relations, security policy, and international law. National and individual security and threat perceptions have an effect on neutrality as on all other security concepts. Classic neutrality requires some degree of inter-state tension and a triangular relationship. Nonalignment can be compared to neutrality in its permanent form, in that both concepts extend their rights and obligations into peace time and their adherents must abstain from any bloc involvement.
