A political alliance is an agreement between parties to coordinate electoral or legislative efforts. Such arrangements can be based on ideology, policy preferences, or strategic considerations, such as maximizing election success or blocking the advance of an enemy. They can have profound implications for the governance of states and their citizens, as well as global economic growth. The art of alliance-building is long-standing, and scholars have identified a variety of motivations, incentives, and challenges that arise when political parties form strategic partnerships.
In a domestic context, electoral pacts are commonly forged by parties with divergent policies to pool resources and present a united front in election campaigns. This type of alliance is often governed by formal coalition agreements, or memoranda of understanding (MoUs), that outline the terms and conditions of the partnership, including shared policy goals, distribution of ministerial portfolios, and mechanisms for decision-making and dispute resolution.
In a global context, political alliances are more complex, and are governed by international treaties and other legal instruments. They may also be shaped by global ideological movements and diaspora influence, or by transnational party affiliations. Such arrangements can have profound implications for the governance of states, and their citizens, as well as global economic development and trade flows. Political science has a rich literature on political pacts, but it has focused primarily on the nexus of electoral pacts and coalition government, and largely ignored normative concerns about their merits and limits.