the political prenup: you keep your side happy so nobody burns down the house.
means an arrangement where rival groups or parties formally split governing authority instead of one side taking all of it.
from emerged as a conflict-resolution tool in deeply divided societies, formalized in political science by thinkers like arend lijphart in the 1960s-70s under the term consociationalism, built on the idea that democracy in fractured states needs guaranteed seats at the table, not just majority rule.
good friday agreement — 1998 deal splits northern ireland's executive between unionists and nationalists
lebanon's confessional system — 1943 pact reserves presidency, pm, and speaker for three faiths
south africa 1994 — mandela's anc shared cabinet with de klerk's national party
bosnia's tripartite presidency — dayton accords 1995 rotate power among serbs, croats, bosniaks