Introduction

One of the most commonly used approaches in explaining states’ behaviour in the modern international system suggests that to ensure their security interests, “states may either balance or bandwagon”. The concept of neutrality, defined as non-participation in others’ conflicts , is as old as the notions of war and alliance. As a foreign and security policy, neutrality is a relatively new phenomenon. Afghanistan, as the main case study of this book, is an example of one such strategically situated, small state, where permanent neutrality has been proposed on a number of occasions. In Afghanistan, neutrality keeps emerging as an ad hoc solution for the restoration of security and balance of power in the region. The study of neutrality in general faces many theoretical and analytical challenges and limitations and this book is not an exception. The sample size of permanently neutral states is very small in comparison to, for example, allied states or non-aligned states.