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 of other parties who expressed their opinion on the matter and decided, that is, that decision was reached in a totally unique way in which only the trial intervened of a single person who is the one who produced such a final and unilateral decision.
Normally, these types of decisions tend to occur in those contexts in which freedom, equality and democracy do not prevail, 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 there is no previous step of consensus in which an attempt is made to agree with other interested parties to reach the best decision. for all.
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 who have the mission of sustaining trade, production and institutions, among other actors.
On the other hand, agreements can be concluded within a nation between natural persons, legal entities, between organizations, and can also be carried out between different nations, neighbors or those that are not.
Normally these agreements that are signed are related to commercial, security, industry development issues, among others.
Mutual obligations and rights
The agreements always imply mutual obligations and rights of course that must be respected by each party, and of course, if this does not happen, those who have incurred in any omission may be sued for compliance and punished.
Meanwhile, when one of the parties does not respect the agreement it signed with the other, for example reaching a consensus, then it will be acting unilaterally and this will clearly affect the agreement that has been entered into.
In politics, for example, ideas are constantly being debated and consensus is sought among various political groups, especially in the legislative sphere. Now, when the executive branch that holds a parliamentary majority acts per se, without consensus, it will be said that it acted unilaterally in the decision it has taken.
This action undoubtedly 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 the ownership of an asset or a right to another without receiving any benefit in exchange. 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 it 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 one side only.
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.
