Selectorate theory analyzes how political leaders maintain power through the dynamics of their support base. It categorizes political systems based on the size of their coalitions and outlines the distribution of public and private goods to retain loyalty among supporters. The theory has broad applications, influencing studies on various political and economic phenomena.

• Leaders' survival depends on the ratio between the "selectorate" (those with a say in choosing leaders) and the "winning coalition" (those whose support the leader actually needs to stay in power).
• Small winning coalitions relative to the selectorate push leaders toward private goods (bribes, favors) to reward a few loyalists, while large winning coalitions push toward public goods that benefit everyone.
• This framework explains why autocracies with small coalitions tend toward corruption and repression, while democracies with large coalitions favor public policy and welfare provision.
• The theory has been used to explain patterns in war behavior, foreign aid allocation, and regime stability across different political systems.