neutralismo

Neutralismo, literally neutrality, is a term used in political, historical and ecological contexts to describe a stance or relation in which a party remains independent of competing sides or interactions. In international relations, neutralismo denotes the policy of a state to refrain from military alliances and to avoid taking sides in armed conflicts. Neutral states may seek to protect their sovereignty, reduce security guarantees they must provide, and preserve freedom to conduct commerce and diplomacy. The concept has historical roots in the practice of neutrality recognized by international law; its implementation is often defined by treaties and customary law, and may include obligations such as not supporting belligerents, avoiding use of territory for offensive purposes, and allowing humanitarian relief.

Historically, neutralismo has been associated with states seeking to avoid entanglement in great-power wars. Notable examples include Switzerland, Sweden, and Ireland, though the practical application of neutrality has varied with time and circumstances. In practice, neutrality can be contested when humanitarian concerns or moral considerations are invoked, and some critics argue that neutrality can enable aggression by allowing violations of rights without accountability.

In ecology, neutralismo also denotes an interaction in which two species have no measurable positive or negative effect on each other's fitness; it is used as a theoretical baseline to compare with interactions such as competition, predation, and mutualism.

See also: neutrality, nonalignment, impartiality, neutrality laws.