Pact

A pact is a formal agreement between two or more parties to cooperate or refrain from certain actions, thereby creating mutual obligations. The term traces to the Latin pactum, meaning "a pledge," and is used in legal, political, and social contexts to describe promises that bind the participants.

Pacts can be made at international, national, or private levels. In international relations, pacts are often called treaties or conventions, but the word "pact" is used for agreements such as non-aggression pacts and defensive pacts. Domestic pacts may take the form of contracts or covenants and are typically governed by the applicable civil or commercial law. Key elements common to most pacts include the parties involved, the scope of obligations, duration, conditions for modification or termination, and provisions for dispute resolution and enforcement. The binding nature of a pact depends on its form, incorporation, and applicable law.

Throughout history, pacts have shaped diplomacy and commerce, from non-aggression agreements to military alliances and trade deals. Notable examples include the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of 1939, the Warsaw Pact of 1955, and various regional trade pacts. Breach or withdrawal from a pact can lead to diplomatic consequences, sanctions, or recourse to arbitration or courts, depending on the instrument and governing law. In religious and cultural contexts, the term is also associated with covenants or promises between parties, including between humans and deities and within communities.