Political scientists define a consociational state as a state which has major internal divisions along ethnic, religious or linguistic lines, yet nonetheless manages to remain remarkably stable, due to consultation between the elites of each of its major social groups.

A consociational democracy often elects a "grand coalition" government which incorporates the main segments of the society and maintains rules or conventions of proportional representation and of proportional employment in the public sector. In certain matters it guarantees community autonomy and constitutional vetoes for minorities.

Classic examples of consociational states include Switzerland, India and the Netherlands.