Drawing on recently declassified government files, private papers and interviews, this book argues that through a combination of preventative diplomacy and robust defence planning, the Labour government of 1974-79 succeeded in maintaining peace, avoiding the fate of its Tory successors.

Aaron Donaghy is an IRC Government of Ireland Postdoctoral Fellow at University College Dublin, Ireland. His research interests include twentieth-century British history and the history of international relations, particularly Anglo-American relations.

Acknowledgements Abbreviations Maps Introduction 1. 'Leave This Poisoned Chalice Alone' 2. The Lowest Common Multiple 3. A Sensational Hostage 4. Islands Surrounded by Advice 5. The Mixed Approach 6. Absentee Landlords 7. Defence of the Realm 8. 'No Talks, Just Football' Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index