This article examines Ireland's foreign policy adaptation to Europe over the last forty years of EU membership. It looks at the types of policy and institutional changes that have occurred in Ireland's foreign relations over four time periods: the historical-institutional context of Irish foreign policy (1921-73); Ireland's accession and adaptation to Europe (1973-86); the Single European Act to the Maastricht Treaty and beyond (1986-2008); and the international economic system (2008-). In each phase of these developments, the article considers the pressure for adaptation (i.e. Europeanisation), the response of the Irish foreign policy 'establishment' and the impact on foreign policy, including Ireland's outlook on international affairs
