This book provides the first detailed comparative analysis of the unusual partnership between the main European neutral states and NATO. Neutrality and alliance membership are fundamentally incompatible, but through the vehicle of NATO¿s post-Cold War partnerships the European neutral states and NATO have found a way to bridge this gap and cooperate with one another. Based on case studies of Austria, Finland, Ireland, Sweden and Switzerland written by leading experts, this book explores the detail of each country¿s relationship with NATO, the factors shaping those relationships and whether any of these states are likely to abandon neutrality and join NATO. The book also contributes to broader work on foreign policy by exploring different explanations of the European neutral states¿ foreign and security policy choices.
This book will be of interest to scholars of the European neutral states, NATO and European security, as well as to those interested in understanding the dynamics behind states foreign policy choices.

Chapter 1:  Introduction: The European Neutral State - Andrew Cottey.- Chapter 2: European Neutrality in Historical Perspective - Andrew Cottey.- Chapter 3: NATO's Partnerships - Andrew Cottey.- Chapter 4: 'The Allied Partner': Sweden and NATO through the Realist-Idealist Lens - Magnus Petersson.- Chapter 5: Finland and NATO: Strategic Choices and Identity Conceptions - Tuomas Forsberg.- Chapter 6: Austria: Engaged Neutrality - Heinz Gärtner.- Chapter 7: Ireland and NATO: A Distinctly Low Profile Partnership - Andrew Cottey.- Chapter 8: Switzerland and NATO: From Non-Relationship to Cautious Partnership - Christian Nünlist.- Chapter 9: Conclusion. 

Andrew Cottey is Senior Lecturer and Jean Monnet Chair in European Political Integration, Department of Government, University College Cork, Ireland. His research focuses on European security and his publications include Security in 21st Century Europe (Palgrave Macmillan).