neutralita

Neutralita, or neutrality, is the policy or stance of not taking sides in conflicts, disputes, or debates and of maintaining impartial judgment and action. It can apply to states, organizations, or individuals and may be formalized as a declaration or practiced informally.

In political and military terms, neutrality is the position of a state that chooses not to participate in armed conflict and avoids supporting any belligerent. Neutral states refrain from aiding warring parties, respect the neutrality of ports and airspace, and protect civilians and diplomatic personnel. International law, notably the Hague Conventions of 1907, outlines the rights and duties of neutral powers and the limits on belligerents’ treatment of neutral territory and supplies. Historical examples include Switzerland, which maintained long-standing neutrality, and Sweden, which pursued non-belligerence during several European conflicts.

Legal and economic neutrality covers the rules governing trade, arms transfers, and the flow of goods to warring states. Neutrals may engage in commerce under restrictions that prevent material support to aggression and prohibit contraband. Economic neutrality seeks to balance access to markets with the obligation to avoid aiding aggression.

Non-state neutrality extends to journalism, science, and technology. Journalistic neutrality aims for balanced reporting and avoidance of overt bias; scientific and research neutrality seeks to minimize methodological or ideological bias in study and interpretation. In contemporary discourse, neutrality faces challenges from humanitarian concerns, sanctions, cyber operations, and global interdependence, prompting debates about when neutrality is ethical or practical.

See also: impartiality, neutrality in international law, journalistic ethics.