The Theory of Political Coalitions

William Riker, a prominent political scientist, utilized mathematical models, particularly game theory, to study political behavior. He coined the term "positive political theory" to describe his approach, which aimed to create empirically verifiable theories of political behavior based on the assumption that individuals act rationally to maximize their benefits.12

Riker's work, including The Theory of Political Coalitions (1962), explored how politicians form alliances. A coalition is a temporary group of actors coordinating to achieve a common goal, often formed when individual actors realize they can achieve more together than alone. Riker argued that federalism, for instance, arises from participants' self-interest rather than a desire for the common good. His theories faced challenges for potentially ignoring cultural contexts and focusing on retrospectively rational choices.132