Concept in Definition ABC
Miscellanea / / November 13, 2021
By Florencia Ucha, on Jun. 2011
The term unilateral indicates that the situation in question concerns or is limited to a single part or a single aspect.
Situation that is limited to a single part or aspect. Applications
For example, a unilateral decision, this type of decision is characterized by not having admitted in the instances inherent to its decision the participation from other parties who gave their opinion on the matter and decided, that is, that decision was reached in a totally unique in which only the judgment of a single person intervened, who is the one who produced such a final decision and unilateral.
Normally, these types of decisions tend to take place in those contexts in which freedom does not prevail, equality and the democracy, leaving the decisions to the free will of a single person who holds absolute power.
This sense per case has an absolutely negative connotation since this type of action and way of making decisions implies that no there is a prior consensus step in which an attempt is made to reach an agreement with other interested parties to arrive at the best decision to everyone.
The concept that concerns us has a special use in commercial and legal matters to refer to aspects that will only affect one of the intervening parties.
The other side is the concept of bilateral that refers to a situation in which two parties are involved and affected by an issue.
In societies there are constantly relationships between different parties, that is, between people who decide to establish links that are sustained through contracts and that have the mission of sustaining trade, production and institutions, among others actors.
On the other hand, agreements can be concluded within a nation between individuals, legal entities, between organizations, and also can be carried out between different nations, neighbors or those that are not.
Normally these agreements that are signed are related to commercial matters, of safety, industry development, among others.
Mutual obligations and rights
Agreements always imply mutual obligations and rights of course that must be respected by each party, and that Of course, if this does not happen, those who have incurred in any omission.
Meanwhile, when one of the parties does not respect the agreement it signed with the other, for example agreeing on a decision, then, will be acting unilaterally and this will clearly affect the agreement that has been celebrated.
In the politicsFor example, ideas are constantly being debated and consensus is sought among various political groups, especially in the legislative sphere. Now when the executive power that holds a parliamentary majority acts per se, without consensus, it will be said that I act unilaterally in the decision it has taken.
This action, without a doubt, affects the democratic system.
Unilateral contract
On the other hand, a unilateral contract It will be that contract that generates obligations only in one of the parties that subscribe it.
In this type of contract, the donation contract, from which a person is obliged to hand over to another the ownership of a good or a right without receiving any benefit in return. And the other contract that stands out in this category is the contract called loan, through which one party delivers a piece of furniture or any other good to another absolutely free of charge so that they can make use of the same with the exception that once the use is finished the species is returned in the same conditions in which it was delivered.
Another use that admits the word unilateral allows us to refer to that which is located on only one side.
Meanwhile, in the field of diplomacy, the use of the term unilateral is also frequent. In this sense, it supposes that decision that is made by a country individually, without consulting its peers who may also be affected by the same situation.
And that which is situated only on one side is also designated as one-sided.
Topics in Unilateral