Unanimity
Overview
Unanimity (滿場一致) refers to a situation in which all participants in a meeting or vote agree or oppose with the same opinion. It represents complete consensus in the decision-making process and holds particular significance in politics, law, and international relations. Unanimity is regarded as an ideal of democratic procedures, but in practice, it also carries the risk of forcibly unifying diverse opinions.
Main Content
Definition and Meaning of Unanimity
Unanimity is a translation of the Latin-derived word 'unanimous', which comes from 'unanimus', meaning "one mind." It refers to a case in which all members of a deliberative body agree, and unlike simple majority rule, it signifies a state in which there are no opposing opinions at all. This means that unanimity carries stronger legitimacy than merely the opinion of a majority.
Unanimity as a Decision-Making Method
- Advantages: Unanimity strengthens the legitimacy of decisions, enhances members' sense of community, and can reduce resistance during implementation.
- Disadvantages: It takes considerable time and effort to obtain the consent of all members, minority opinions may be disregarded by the majority, and decision-making can be delayed or fail when members' interests conflict.
Fields Where Unanimity Is Used
- Politics: In national assemblies, local councils, and party meetings, important agenda items are sometimes resolved unanimously.
- Law: When all justices in the Supreme Court en banc deliver the same opinion, it is called a unanimous judgment.
- International Relations: In the United Nations Security Council, unanimity among permanent members is often required.
- Business: Shareholders' meetings or boards of directors sometimes require unanimity when making major decisions.
Historical Examples
- Korea: There are cases in 2020 where National Assembly bills related to the COVID-19 response were passed unanimously.
- International: In the United Nations Security Council, resolutions such as sanctions have often been adopted unanimously.
Limitations and Controversies of Unanimity
- Possibility of ignoring minority opinions
- Risk of groupthink
- Formal unanimity can occur in an atmosphere where casting a dissenting vote is difficult
Latest Trends
As of 2024–2025, bipartisan cooperation that draws unanimous agreement from National Assembly members is being emphasized in South Korea. In particular, cases of bills related to livelihoods or disaster response being passed unanimously are increasing. In the international community, the importance of unanimity is being highlighted on global issues such as climate change and pandemics, but due to the conflicting interests of each country, reaching unanimity is often difficult. The introduction of digital voting systems is making it possible to verify unanimity more quickly and transparently.
Related Topics
- [[Majority rule]]
- [[Decision-making]]
- [[National Assembly minutes]]
- [[United Nations Security Council]]