Neutrality After 1989: New Paths in the Post-Cold War World

1 month ago 56

209 Downloads

Following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the emergence of the United States as the world’s sole superpower, neutrality was seen by many as a relic of the Cold War. However, the arrival of rising powers on the scene and the gradual shift towards multipolarity as countries like Russia and China assert their influence and challenge the US-dominated international order has in turn revived neutrality in its various forms. This book begins with a range of chapters examining the ‘old neutrals’ of Europe via contemporary Austrian and Swiss neutrality, the decline and end of Swedish and Finnish neutrality, and the resilience of Irish neutrality. Later chapters deal with the emergence of ‘new neutrals’ via examinations of Vietnamese ‘bamboo diplomacy,’ Israel’s efforts to balance its relations with Washington and Moscow, and Oman’s non-interventionist foreign policy.

Find out more about E-IR’s range of open access books

Table of contents

Introduction – Naman Karl-Thomas Habtom

The Neutralities of Austria and Switzerland: Akin but Not Alike – Pascal Lottaz

Sweden’s Role in International Security Affairs: Officially Non-Aligned but Ready to Serve – Erik Noreen and Roxanna Sjöstedt

From Cold War ‘Neutrality’ to the West: Finland’s Route to the European Union and NATO – Jussi Pakkasvirta and Hanna Tuominen

The Resilience of Irish Neutrality – Karen Devine

Bamboo in the Wind: Vietnam’s Quest for Neutrality – Nguyen KhacGiang

Great Power Rivalry and Israeli Selective Neutrality: ‘Walking Between the Drops’ – Liudmila Samarskaia

Oman: Partisan Non-Intervention – Roby C. Barrett and Leah Sherwood

About the editor

Naman Karl-Thomas Habtom is a doctoral student at the Faculty of History, University of Cambridge. Previously, he has been a visiting researcher at the Swedish Defence University, Université libre de Bruxelles, and Stockholm University’s Hans Blix Centre. His research focuses on contemporary European military and diplomatic history with a special focus on Sweden. His research interests also include neutrality, foreign fighters, and nuclear weapons policy. He has published articles in Scandinavian Journal of History and the Scandinavian Journal of Military Studies and has written on international affairs and security policy for War on the Rocks, Lawfare, and Responsible Statecraft among others.

Before you download your free e-book, please consider donating to support open access publishing.

E-IR is an independent non-profit publisher run by an all volunteer team. Your donations allow us to invest in new open access titles and pay our bandwidth bills to ensure we keep our existing titles free to view. Any amount, in any currency, is appreciated. Many thanks!

Donations are voluntary and not required to download the e-book - your link to download is below.