When Opposites Attract

Abstract

Pre-electoral coalitions form across a variety of political contexts. Prevailing explanations suggest that ideological proximity between coalition partners and the size of the contribution that parties make explain the character of coalitions. These expectations hold only partially true in the case of Mexico. Rather, as this article suggests, parties also evaluate the degree to which they consider prospective coalition partners reliable and trustworthy. Some otherwise viable coalitions fail to form because of lack of trust or form despite ideological disparities, when a party’s contribution to defeating a common enemy is considered.