blocs

A bloc, plural blocs, is a group of states, political parties, or organizations that coordinate activities and pursue common goals. The term is widely used in international relations and economics to describe alliances formed to advance shared interests through policy alignment, collective action, or mutual support.

Blocs form to increase influence, reduce risks, or expand economic opportunities. Historical examples include the Western Bloc and Eastern Bloc of the Cold War. In contemporary times, economic blocs such as the European Union, USMCA, Mercosur, and ASEAN coordinate tariffs, standards, and regulatory regimes; security blocs like NATO align defense planning and diplomatic positions.

Formation and effects: Blocs are typically established through treaties or agreements that define membership criteria, decision rules, and institutions. Benefits often include greater bargaining power, economies of scale, and policy coherence, while drawbacks can include constrained sovereignty, internal disagreements, and the risk of division if member interests diverge.

Other uses: Beyond politics, the term 'bloc' appears in other domains as a generic descriptor for modular units or components, such as in software design patterns that organize logic into cohesive blocks.