Common front - Definition and Overview

In politics a common front is an alliance between different groups, forces or interests in pursuit of a common goal or in opposition to a common enemy. Other words that may be used are alliance or coalition though the term common front is often used when groups want to emphasise that their alliance is of a temporary nature and that individual groups within the front maintain their independence and do not consider themselves subservient to a collective leadership.

In left-wing politics there are two main types of common fronts: the popular front and the united front.