This paper introduces the `noncompensatory principle' of coalition formation. This principle states that in a choice situation, a negative or low score on the political dimension cannot be compensated for with a positive score on other dimensions (see Mintz, 1993; Mintz and Geva, 1994a, b; Mintz et al., 1994). The link between the `noncompensatory principle' and the size of coalitions is then discussed. Based on the `noncompensatory' logic I propose that ceteris paribus, intra-party rivalry is likely to lead to the formation of coalitions larger than necessary to win, whereas inter-party conflict is more likely to lead to the formation of narrow coalitions. The Israeli examples of 1988 and 1990 demonstrate the applicability of this theme to real-world situations.
Arian, A.
(1985) Politics in Israel. Chatham, NJ: Chatham.
2.
Billings, R. S.
and S. A. Marcus (1983) `Measures of Compensatory and Noncompensatory Models of Decision Behavior: Process Tracing versus Policy Capturing', Organizational Behavior and Human Performance31: 331-352.
3.
Browne, E.
(1973) Coalition Theories: A Logical and Empirical Critique. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
4.
Browne, E.
and M. Franklin (1986) `Editors' Introduction: New Directions in Coalition Research', Legislative Studies Quarterly11(4): 469-483.
5.
De Swaan, A.
(1973) Coalition Theories and Cabinet Formation. Amsterdam: Elsevier.
6.
Doron, G.
(1988) Games in Israeli Politics. Tel Aviv: Ramot.
7.
Einhorn, H.
(1970) `The Use of Nonlinear, Noncompensatory Models in Decision Making', Psychological Bulletin73: 221-230.
8.
Einhorn, H.
(1971) `Use of Nonlinear, Noncompensatory Models as a Function of Task and Amount of Information', Organizational Behavior and Human Performance6: 1-27.
9.
Ford, K. J.
, N. Schmitt, S. L. Schechtman, B. M. Hults and M. L. Doherty (1989) `Process Tracing Methods: Contributions, Problems and Neglected Research Questions', Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Behavior43: 75-117.
10.
Franklin, M.
and T. Mackie (1984) `Reassessing the Importance of Size and Ideology for the Formation of Governing Coalitions in Parliamentary Democracies', American Journal of Political Science28: 671-692.
11.
Laver, M.
and K. Shepsle (1990) `Government Coalitions and Intra-party Politics', British Journal of Political Science20: 489-507.
12.
Lijphart, A.
(1984) Democracies. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
13.
Mintz, A.
(1993) `The Decision to Attack Iraq: A Noncompensatory Theory of Decision Making', Journal of Conflict Resolution37: 595-618.
14.
Mintz, A.
and N. Geva (1994a) The Poliheuristic Theory of Decision, forthcoming.
15.
Mintz, A.
, and N. Geva (1994b) `The Poliheuristic Theory of the Use of Force', paper presented at the conference on Decision Making on War and Peace: the Cognitive-Rational Debate, The Military Studies Institute, Texas A&M University, 10-11 March.
16.
Mintz, A.
, N. Geva and K. DeRouen, Jr. (1994) `Mathematical Models of Foreign Policy Decision Making: Compensatory vs. Noncompensatory, Synthese100.
17.
Nachmias, D.
(1974) `Coalition Politics in Israel', Comparative Political Studies7(3).
18.
Payne, J.
(1976) `Task Complexity and Contingent Processing in Decision Making: An Information Search and Protocol Analysis', Organizational Behavior and Human Performance16: 366-387.
19.
Payne, J. W.
, J. R. Bettman and E. J. Johnson (1988) `Adaptive Strategy Selection in Decision Making', Journal of Experimental Psychology14: 534-552.
20.
Riker, W.
(1962) The Theory of Coalition Politics. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.
21.
Robertson, J. D.
(1986) `Economic Polarization and Cabinet Formation in Western Europe', Legislative Studies Quarterly11(4): 533-549.
22.
Sage, A. P.
(ed.) (1990) Information Processing in Systems and Organizations. New York: Pergamon.
23.
Shapiro, Y.
(1976) The Formative Years of the Israeli Labor Party. London: Sage.
24.
Sniderman, P.
, R. Brody and P. Tetlock (1991) Reasoning and Choice. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
25.
Strom, K.
(1990) Minority Government and Majority Rule. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
26.
Tversky, A.
(1972) `Elimination by Aspects: A Theory of Choice', Psychological Review79: 281-299.
27.
von Beyme, K.
(1985) Political Parties in Western Democracies. New York: St Martin's Press.
