What does neutralism mean?
Neutralism is the deliberate practice or policy of avoiding involvement in a dispute, conflict, or ideological struggle. In international affairs, it may mean remaining outside an alliance or military conflict while retaining an independent position. The term can also have a philosophical meaning: ethical or epistemological neutralism holds that questions about ultimate values or the meaning of life cannot be resolved through rational argument alone. In everyday political discussion, neutralism is related to neutrality but is often stronger and more deliberate. It suggests an organized stance or policy of refusing to take sides, rather than merely showing impartiality in a particular decision. The word is useful because it distinguishes conscious noninvolvement from mere fairness, indecision, or personal detachment.
nounNeutralism is the policy or practice of remaining neutral, especially in political or ideological disputes. In philosophy, it can also refer to the position that questions concerning ultimate values or the meaning of life are not objectively answerable.
- The policy or practice of remaining neutral, especially in political, military, or ideological affairs.
- In philosophy, the view that questions about ultimate values, the meaning of life, or the objectively good life cannot be settled by rational argument.
"The government maintained a policy of neutrality during the conflict."
"Switzerland's armed neutrality allowed it to remain outside the surrounding conflicts while maintaining security within its borders."
"The philosopher defended a form of ethical neutralism, arguing that reason alone cannot determine a single ultimate way of life."
The plural is grammatically possible but rare; discussion normally refers to a singular policy of neutrality or to different forms of neutralism.
"The survey compared political neutralisms in several postwar democracies."
Neutralism is neutrality with a deliberate policy attached: not merely avoiding sides, but consciously refusing to take one.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of neutralism
Neutralism was formed in the early 19th century from neutral, with the suffix -ism. Neutral itself was borrowed into English from French neutre, ultimately from the Latin neuter, meaning neither, of neither sex, or uncommitted. The same Latin root also underlies neuter and neutrally, while neutrality and neutralize are later English derivatives associated with the same concept.
Related word forms
How neutralism is actually used
In political contexts, neutralism generally suggests a deliberate commitment to nonalignment rather than simply being impartial on an individual issue. The philosophical sense is more specialized and should be used with awareness that it concerns limits of rational justification, not ordinary personal detachment.
Easily confused with neutralism
Neutrality usually means the condition of being impartial or nonaligned, whereas neutralism specifically emphasizes an active policy of avoiding political, military, or ideological involvement.