# Coalition A **coalition** is a temporary alliance or union formed when two or more individuals, organized groups, or entities cooperate to achieve a specific common goal. Unlike permanent mergers, coalitions are typically functional partnerships characterized by the pooling of resources and influence to address a shared objective while maintaining the independent identities of the participants. ### Primary Domains of Application Coalitions are foundational to the exercise of power and strategy across several key sectors: * **Political:** In parliamentary systems, a coalition government is formed when multiple political parties join forces to command a majority. Outside of formal governance, political coalitions may consist of interest groups lobbying for specific legislation or social change. * **Military:** International military coalitions involve sovereign states coordinating their armed forces for collective defense, peacekeeping missions, or specific combat operations. * **Economic:** In business and economics, companies or trade organizations may form coalitions to establish industry standards, increase market leveraging power, or undertake large-scale joint ventures that exceed the capacity of a single firm. ### Characteristics * **Temporality:** They are often disbanded once the shared objective is reached or the common threat is neutralized. * **Strategic Alignment:** Participants may have divergent long-term ideologies but find common ground on immediate, tactical priorities. * **Resource Pooling:** Members contribute diverse assets—such as capital, labor, intelligence, or voting blocs—to increase their collective impact.