Coalition Politics
How parties negotiate, form, and maintain coalition governments, and why coalitions sometimes collapse.
The Art of the Deal
In multi-party systems where no single party wins a majority, government formation requires coalition-building. The process typically begins with the largest party (or the party designated by the head of state) attempting to assemble a majority through negotiations with potential partners. These negotiations cover policy commitments, ministerial portfolios, the identity of the prime minister, and the terms for managing disagreements.
Coalition theory identifies several common patterns. Minimum winning coalitions include only enough parties to reach a majority, excluding parties that are not needed (because including extra parties means sharing power with more partners). Connected coalitions bring together ideologically adjacent parties. Grand coalitions pair the two largest parties, as in Germany's CDU/CSU-SPD coalitions, usually when no smaller combination can form a majority.