ABSTRACT
Coalitions offer countries a way to increase their relative strength—a position presented on behalf of multiple countries is given more weight than a position presented by a single country. A country’s ability to contribute constructively relies on size of delegation, negotiator skill, and influence, which can be enhanced when countries enter into coalitions. The degree of success or effectiveness of a coalition depends largely on its type, majority versus minority coalitions, general versus issue-specific, and on the nature and precision of its objectives. Assessments of the effectiveness of a coalition are influenced by bargaining strength and its evolution over time, role of the coalition in the negotiations, size of the coalition, leadership, cohesion, organization, and strategies. Numerous coalitions have developed in the climate change regime negotiations, in addition to Alliance of Small Island States and Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries. The largest developed country coalition is regional: the European Union.
