Unbought and Unbossed

by Shirley Chisholm

Coalition politics is issue oriented instead of party oriented. It draws together disparate groups, who combine — tempo- rarily, in all probability — around some issue of overriding importance to them at that time and place. By its nature, it confronts the traditional politics of expediency and compro- mise. It is called into being by the failure of compromises and the shabby results of action taken out of expediency. It is not a comfortable kind of political action for its leaders, because it involves creativity, innovation, change, and com- mitment to the people instead of to personal advancement. It means opening up participation to the out-groups as well as the in-groups, and giving real power instead of token representation to the minorities, at the policy-making and administrative levels.