When negotiating the formation of governments in multiparty democracies, do party leaders consistently consider the policy preferences of their voters? This book introduces a theoretical framework that places voters - particularly their ideological sophistication - at the heart of coalition bargaining. challenges existing approaches that portray elite bargaining as isolated from voter reactions, demonstrates that parties anticipate and respond to potential voter backlash during government formation, and traces the impact of these anticipations on government participation, the choice of coalition partners, and expected policy consequences.