THE MECHANICS OF COALITION POLITICS IN

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©Clyde Weatherhead30 April 2011

Coalition Government - Definition• Wikipedia - A coalition government is a cabinet of

a parliamentary government in which several parties co-operate. The usual reason given for this arrangement is that no party on its own can achieve a majority in the parliament.

• A coalition government might also be created in a time of national difficulty or crisis, for example during wartime, to give a government the high degree of perceived political legitimacy it desires whilst also playing a role in diminishing internal political strife.

• In such times, parties have formed all-party coalitions (national unity governments, grand coalitions).

Coalition Government - Definition• Politics Dictionary – A government in which

no party has complete control and two or more parties agree to govern together. (Note During World War II, all three major parties in the United Kingdom, Conservative, Labour and Liberal formed a government together.

• Webster’s Dictionary – A Government formed by various political parties by a mutual surrender of principles.

Coalition Government - Definition

• Web Geek - A government formed by multiple parties who must compromise on principles. Coalition governments occur in places where no one party is in the majority.

Coalition Government -

• A temporary union of parties• For forming government• As against single-party governments• Formed because of – perception of a common threat, or– Recognition that goals can best be achieved by

working together– For electoral victory or other goals

Existing Coalition Governments

Countries with Coalition Governments

• Italy• Germany• India• Ireland• Israel • Belgium• Latin America

• UK• Canada• Iraq• Denmark• Sweden• France• Netherlands

Coalition Experience• Once a parliament is seated in these countries, the difficult

work of bridging gaps begins. In some cases, these gaps are bridged easier than others, as multiple parties may be in agreement on some issues. In other cases, where there is little agreement, building such a coalition government takes time.

• Some feel that a coalition government is a very inefficient way to govern. Also, it may, in some cases, increase the risk of underhanded deals and increase corruption, as more politicians are willing to make deals in order to get things accomplished. A coalition government can also have members that are very argumentative, even more so than other forms of government, simply because so much is at stake.

CoalitionPolitics

Coalition Politics• Parliamentary Coalition– Formed after election produces no clear winner

• Electoral Coalition– 2 or more parties enter an agreement to contest

elections to avoid splitting of votes• Government Coalitions– National Government – to meet national emergency

or crisis; all forces needed to deal with crisis– Power-sharing Government – no party can gain

majority alone; implement agreed policies and programmes

People’s Partnership –What Kind of Coalition

People’s Partnership• Coalition of Parties• Temporary electoral

coalition?– To defeat the PNM– To establish a new

version of the old politics

• Coalition of Interests• Governance Coalition to

change the politics?– COP approach– Built coalition of

interests– To defeat PNM’s

programme for absolute rule

– Coalition to establish new governance

Is there is a Future for the PP?

• Is there a shared philosophy?• Is there trust?• Is there a common programme?• What is “good governance”?• Is this a UNC-led coalition or UNC government?• What is the structure of the coalition?• Is the coalition the same as the government?• How do the people get involved?

Time Spent

GOAL

S

Create the Coalition

Achieve Programme

What Needs to be Done?

•Form Government

Summary

QUESTIONS?

APPENDIX