Unilateralism

Unilateralism is a foreign policy approach in which a state acts independently without seeking agreement or cooperation from other states or international institutions.

National interest: A state's goals and priorities in its relations with other states. Unilateral policies justify independent action as a means of protecting or advancing these priorities.
Multilateralism: Cooperation among three or more states, often through shared rules or institutions. It is the direct alternative: policy is coordinated with other states rather than pursued alone.
Peace of Westphalia: The 1648 settlements that ended the Thirty Years' War and reshaped political order in Europe. It is often associated with the development of sovereign states whose rulers claim independent authority.
Suez Crisis: The 1956 conflict in which Britain, France, and Israel invaded Egypt after the nationalization of the Suez Canal. The invasion proceeded without broad international approval and met strong opposition, including from the United States.
International legitimacy: The acceptance of an actor or action as rightful by relevant states, institutions, or publics. Unilateral action can achieve immediate aims while weakening acceptance of its authority.
Executive agreement: An international agreement made by a national executive without the same domestic ratification process as a treaty. It shows how governments can act internationally through agreements even when they bypass broader treaty-making procedures.
Bilateralism: Diplomacy or cooperation conducted between two states. It involves a partner state, unlike unilateral action, but does not require a wider coalition.
Sovereignty: The supreme authority of a political entity over its territory and independence from outside control. Unilateralism draws on the claim that sovereign states may decide and act for themselves.
United States withdrawal from the Paris Agreement: The United States' 2020 departure from the 2015 international climate accord, later reversed in 2021. The episode shows how a government can leave a negotiated framework and later rejoin it.
Alliance: A formal or informal partnership in which states coordinate to pursue shared interests or security. Acting alone can strain alliances when partners expect consultation or shared commitments.

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