Since Irish foreign policy objectives often fluctuated in the Cold War environment, the conventional assumption is that the administration of Irish foreign policy was conducted in an unprincipled manner. This work offers a new approach to the study of Irish foreign policy by unifying economic, political, and legal issues under the framework of diplomatic recognition. Arguing that Irish foreign policy in the area of recognition was based on the flexibility required of small state diplomacy during the early Cold War, the author's research in the area of Ireland's approach toward emerging and reconstituted states illustrates the high level of professionalism, commitment and administrative consistency within the Department of External Affairs in the administration of foreign policy. This work presents the difficulties in balancing the interests of Ireland as a minor actor within the complicated framework of international diplomacy during the period 1949-63. Case studies include the non-recognition of Israel, China, Vietnam, and East Germany in full length chapters.