A coalition is an alliance among entities, during which they cooperate in joint action, each in their own self-interest. This alliance may be temporary or a matter of convenience. A coalition thus differs from a more formal covenant.

Politics and government

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A coalition government, in a parliamentary system, is a government composed of a coalition of parties. In Australia, the Coalition is also used to refer to an alliance (coalition agreement) of three parties (the Liberals, Nationals and Country Liberals) existing in federal politics since 1922- this constitutes a parliamentary coalition.

In international relations, a coalition can be an ad hoc grouping of nations united for a specific purpose. Sometimes, such groups are diverse and are characterized by some degree of commonalities. Sometimes, the degree of uncommonalities would lead some to perceive the group's bond as being ordinarily unlikely; here it can indicate the fact the historical ties may no longer be in operation, and the coalition members, instead, are joined by a new intention, not necessarily prior bonds.

Military

A coalition is a collection of countries involved in a military operation who are unified under a single command. The phrase "Coalition of the Willing" was employed during the 2003 war in Iraq lead by the United States and its allies ^*.

Mathematics

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Coalitions can be studied as games. The Nash equilibrium defines conditions where rational players can benefit other players in the coalition.

Computer science

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In the computer field, and in the study of cognition, the entities can be called agents or daemons. By definition, agents can form coalitions.

Fiction

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• The Coalition, a group in the Star Fleet Universe, the General War era.

See also

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• Axelrod's book, The Evolution of Cooperation
• united front

Diplomacy

Koalice | Коалиция | Koalition | Koalicio | קואליציה | Coalitie | Koalicja