Coalitions are what? The definition of a coalition of states, parties or companies

When any voluntary association of organizations or even individuals comes into effect, one can speak of a coalition. This is one of the most common means to defeat a stronger enemy or another coalition. Any forces and organizations can unite, but in history the most known are, of course, military and political alliances, from relatively recent (by historical standards) times - economic. Basically, they will be disassembled in this article.

What is a coalition in history?

The first coalitions arose in time immemorial. Probably, when several groups of hunters from different camps teamed up to hunt bigger game. Since that time, various alliances are constantly arising, and sometimes it is because of their actions that history has made sharp turns. For example, only having united, Hellenic politicians could defeat the Persian state, the largest and most powerful empire at that time.

However, sometimes participation in the coalition played a negative role. A. Hitler made a lot of efforts in the beginning in order to conclude an alliance with B. Mussolini, and then to convince the Italian dictator to enter the war. But in fact the Italian troops rendered little help, on the contrary, the German troops had to take part in hostilities in new theaters, which were not originally intended to be sent to them. In addition, it was the allied duty to Japan that compelled A. Hitler to declare war on the United States.

How close were they in the history of the coalition?

In history, there are more and less close coalitions. This implies, first of all, how well the actions of its members are coordinated. For example, within the framework of such an alliance as NATO, the allies constantly coordinate their efforts. For this purpose, the NATO Council, the Military Planning Committee and the Secretary General are working within the organization, which, of course, is not the commander-in-chief of the allied forces, but has broad powers in organizing joint actions.

On the other hand, history knows and many examples of less close cooperation. During the Seven Years' War, France and Prussia were one of two opposing coalitions, but this was perhaps only indicated by the fact that they did not fight each other and their opponents were united in a coalition. In other respects, they did not coordinate their actions and even fought mostly in different parts of the world: Prussia repelled attacks from different sides in Europe, France in this war is known mainly for actions against British forces (in general, unsuccessful) in the colonies and at sea.

Peer coalitions

Most of the most prominent coalitions in history included more or less equal members. An example can serve as anti-Napoleonic coalitions, which consisted and fell apart one after another at the beginning of the XIX century. Thanks to the equality of their participants, the coalitions formed quickly and voluntarily, but also quickly disintegrated after another defeat, since there was no strong center that could support the waverers in their struggle or even force them to continue.

It was also because of the lack of a single coordinating center that, as a result of Napoleon's victory, the coalition failed to take full advantage of the victory: at the Congress of Vienna, the head of French diplomacy, Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Perigord, managed to sow distrust among the allies, thanks to this, France was able to avoid the most negative Of the consequences of her loss that threatened her.

Unequal coalitions

But there are cases in history where a well-pronounced leader dictated his will to the rest of the coalition. This, for example, the Athenian Naval Union. Allied politicians paid Athens a fee for each of them, and Athens was already equipped with the money, first of all, the fleet, for the creation of which the coalition was aimed, as well as land armed forces. Many scientists even consider this union as something average between the coalition of polities and the Athenian Empire.

Thanks to this organization, the forces of the Union have always acted as a single whole. The reverse side was the Athenian dictatorship in the union. Periodically, this or that policy tried to get rid of it - the result was the Athenian military expeditions and heavy punishments for the recalcitrant.

The transformation of the coalition into a single state

Thus, it is clear that history knows close alliances, as well as alliances with a clearly expressed leader. In the light of this, it is not surprising that there have been cases when a coalition of states has become a single state, its members have lost their independence.

Rome at the beginning of its conquests led a fairly close alliance of Italian politicians (like the Athenian maritime union). Sometimes part of the members left the coalition, as was the case during the II Punic War, when many former Roman allies supported Hannibal. But in the end, the coalition became so close that during the so-called Allied Wars it was the Allies who demanded the transformation of the coalition into a single state: there was no longer any hope for a real sovereignty of their policies, and the creation of a single state should give them the rights of Roman citizenship, which were significantly wider Rights of citizenship in union policies.

Coalitions of political parties

It is time to recall the definition given at the beginning of the article. The coalition is a union not only of states, but of all forces and organizations. In the political life of the overwhelming majority of modern democratic states, coalitions of parties have become a normal phenomenon of political life.

Parties can fight for power already in the coalition, go to the elections as a united front. For example, the existence of the Union of Right Forces began as a pre-election bloc, which only later was transformed into a party. On the other hand, parties can form a coalition after the elections to form a majority government, for which unexpected unions are sometimes created. For example, at the beginning of 2015 in Greece, the SYRIZA party, which received the largest number of votes, was absolutely leftist both in terms of the program and pre-election rhetoric, merged with the center-right party Independent Greeks, which allowed the leader of SYRIZA to form a government.

Coalitions of companies

Competition compels both companies, both industrial and trade-financial, to create different coalitions. This is known to us from the school cartels, syndicates and trusts. There is no need to explain the difference between them again. Suffice it to say that different types of coalitions between large companies play a big role in the modern world economy.

Examples of successful coalitions of various companies are countless. It is enough to bring one. In 1892, the coalition of Edison Electric Light and Thomson-Houston Electric Company gave rise to General Electric, which today is one of the largest corporations producing various product names in almost all countries of the world.

Advantages and disadvantages of coalitions

Only a superficial sketch of such a phenomenon in world history as a coalition was presented here. What is it and what is its role in history - a topic worthy of a separate monograph. But it is already clear that the coalition can play both a positive and a negative role for the one who enters there. It can bring victory or, conversely, make it necessary to solve not only its problems, but also the problems of its allies. Can help to withstand a strong enemy, and can deprive of sovereignty.