coalities

Coalities are formal or informal alliances among multiple actors—such as political parties, government entities, private firms, and civil society organizations—that agree to work together to achieve shared objectives. They involve pooling resources, aligning strategies, and jointly making decisions within a governance arrangement. The term is used by some scholars as a neologism to emphasize the collaborative, multi-actor nature of these arrangements, and to distinguish them from simple issue coalitions that lack formal governance mechanisms.

Key characteristics include inclusive membership with heterogeneous interests; negotiated rules for resource sharing, policy bargaining, and decision-making; a defined duration or policy agenda; and mechanisms for coordination, dispute resolution, and accountability. Coalities can be formalized through treaties, memoranda of understanding, or organizational charters, or they can operate informally based on ongoing collaboration. Components often include governance bodies, negotiation protocols, and agreed metrics for success.

Applications and challenges arise across domains. In politics, coalities may span parties or factions to pass legislation or govern, while in public policy and civil society they can coordinate across sectors to address complex problems such as climate change or urban development. Benefits include broader legitimacy, access to complementary resources, and risk sharing. Challenges include coordinating diverse interests, asymmetries in power, high transaction costs, and potential instability if members diverge. The term remains less established than “coalition” and is used variably in literature.