Maintaining Neutrality in Modern Europe

Maintaining Neutrality in Modern Europe examines how states and societies have actively navigated the contested space between belligerence and alliance from the nineteenth century to today, revealing neutrality as a deliberate, emotionally charged political strategy rather than passive non-involvement.

Through eight compelling chapters featuring European case studies - the Netherlands and Switzerland during the World Wars, Belgium under German occupation, and the German Bund's role in post-1815 security – the collection challenges the prevailing assumption that neutrality is simply the absence of a choice. Instead, its contributors demonstrate that non-alignment was an active, continuously contested, and emotionally charged political strategy. The volume makes two significant interventions. First, it bridges the largely separate literatures of diplomatic and military history on the one hand and international relations scholarship on "hedging" on the other, arguing for cross-fertilisation between empirically rich historical case studies and theoretically sophisticated IR frameworks. Second, it expands the scope of neutrality studies by incorporating cultural and emotional history, treating neutrality as mindset as well as policy.

This book is essential reading for scholars and postgraduate students specializing in diplomatic history, security studies, and international relations. It will also appeal to informed general readers, policymakers, and practitioners seeking to understand the historical roots and contemporary relevance of neutrality in an increasingly polarized world.

Floribert Baudet is Professor of Military History at the Netherlands Defence Academy and the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His publications include Perspectives on Military Intelligence from the First World War to Mali (edited, 2017) and The art of Scaling: Organising swift adaptation to cope with crises and war (2025).

Samuël Kruizinga is Associate Professor of War Studies at the University of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. His research focuses on globalised warfare, neutrality, economic warfare, and small states. Major recent publications include Grey Zone: Conflict beyond War and Peace (with Marco Wyss, 2026).

Henk de Jong is Associate Professor of Military History and Military Strategy at the Netherlands Defence Academy, the Netherlands. His fields of interest and expertise include cultural aspects of war and warfare, particularly its literary and visual perceptions and representations. His publications include Educating Officers: The Thinking Soldier, The NLDA and the Bologna Declaration (edited with Wim Klinkert, Myriame Bollen, Marenne Jansen, Eric-Hans Kramer and Lisette Vos 2019).