Leiden University Student Repository

Prunty, Alexander (2020)

Themes of Irish Neutrality Throughout the Second World War: How Irish Decision-Making in WWII can be Explained Through Neorealism

Bachelor thesis | International Studies (BA)

The year 2020 marked 81 years since the start of the Second World War and Ireland’s declaration to abstain from it. As time continues, we become further and further detached from the events in human past that have so greatly affected the world we live in today, however, the study of history can bring these events closer to the modern human experience. This artificial closeness can be used as a tool to explain how and why historical events occurred as they did and allow us to learn more about not only the world of yesterday but also the world of tomorrow. This thesis will use Ireland’s 1939-1945 policy of neutrality to test neorealism and liberalism to assess what can be learned not only about said theories, but too the history they are applied to. This can hopefully shine more light on how current theories can be applied outside of the modern world.

Neorealism

Ireland

Neutrality

WWII

Irish History

Second World War

Author

Prunty, Alexander

Faculty

Faculty of Humanities

Specialisation

Europe

Supervisors

Natermann, Diana

ECTS Credits

15

Language

en