Coalitionology

During the working lunch "between Old Danish [well known aquavit] and matured cheese," as Carl Bildt put it, "comparative coalitionology" was discussed.

But his advice was for the party to major on policy issues and avoid what he called "coalitionology".

Speaking on the same programme, Harry McGee, Political Correspondent of the Irish Times, said it was all about "coalitionology", with much speculation about combinations.

It’s been called “coalitionology”: the new parlour and parliamentary game being played all over the country. Leaving aside internal divisions within parties as to whom they would prefer as part[n]ers, here are the combinations that would work mathematically.

But, surely, we and all other media organisations allowed the poll numbers to infect our thinking: there was too much ‘coalitionology’ as a result. The BBC did better than others on this, but, with the benefit of hindsight, we would all have been better off with less discussion of deals and allowed the dissection of policy - that we did from defence to social care, housing to education - to speak for itself.

It led to an explosion of coalitionology, debating hung parliaments, possible coalitions, constitutional process and the 'legitimacy' of various outcomes, as everyone prepared for post-election deals.