Prof Andrew Cottey: So, just what is neutrality?

As UCC hosts the first consultative forum on Ireland's security policy, Professor Andrew Cottey goes back to basics 

The minimum benchmark definition of neutrality is not joining military alliances. 

The Government’s consultative forum on international security policy inevitably confronts the question of neutrality. 

The government parties argue that military neutrality — refraining from joining military alliances — is compatible with security and defence cooperation with the EU and Nato and that such cooperation is necessary to address the security challenges of the 21st century.