ABSTRACT
Neutrality has come under attack from European integration and the post-Cold War order constructed in Europe has led to doubts about the feasibility of neutrality. Neutrality being used to promote causes unrelated to it and this has hampered discussion of the real value of neutrality in the post-Cold War world. The focus on crisis management ensures that neutrality remains compatible with European Union (EU) security integration and ensures that the neutrals have no need to join military alliances in order to participate in the European security architecture. Irish policy has evolved rapidly during the last few years of the twentieth century to ensure that Ireland stays in the mainstream of developments in European security. Ireland has formed a relationship with North Atlantic Treaty Organisation for the first time through Partnership for Peace, moved closer to Western European Union, and participates in the EU's drive towards building an autonomous crisis management capacity.
