CONCEPTUALIZATION OF THE NOTION «POLITICAL COALITION» IN SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE

Abstract

A comprehensive analysis of the state and features of the scientific understanding of the concept and phenomenon of "political coalition" in modern political science has been carried out, identifying the main theoretical directions, methodological approaches and discursive aspects in this issue. The genesis and evolution of the conceptual apparatus of political coalition research have been analyzed. Existing scientific approaches and main theoretical schools have been systematized. Typological approaches to the classification of political coalitions according to functional, institutional, temporal, ideological and geographical criteria have been characterized. The existence of three influential research traditions has been revealed: American (with an emphasis on formal modeling), European (with attention to institutional aspects) and Ukrainian as part of the post-Soviet (focused on the specifics of transit democracies). Key problematic issues of modern scientific discourse have been identified, including terminological uncertainty, methodological limitations and challenges of the digital age. The considerable complexity and multifaceted nature of coalition processes have been revealed, which requires the development of integrative theoretical approaches. The prospects for further development of the theory of political coalitions in the context of the transformation of modern political systems have been outlined. It is concluded that the evolution of the conceptual apparatus of political coalition research demonstrates a gradual transition from descriptive and institutional-legal approaches to complex formalized theoretical models and multi-paradigm analysis; the latest trends indicate the growth of methodological pluralism and the emergence of alternative theoretical approaches; an important direction is the expansion of the geographical and cultural representativeness of research through the inclusion of the experience of non-Western political systems; understanding the mechanisms of coalition formation and functioning is critically important for the development of institutional reforms, increasing the effectiveness of political representation, and ensuring the stability of democratic institutions.