A cabal is a number of persons united in some close design, usually to
promote their private views and interests in a church, state, or other
community by intrigue. Cabals are secret organizations composed of a few
designing persons; a political cabal is often called a junta. The term can
also be used to refer to the designs of such persons. The term also holds
a general meaning of intrigue and conspiracy. Its usage carries strong
connotations of shadowy corners and insidious influence; a cabal is more
evil and selective than, say, a faction, which is simply selfish. Because
of this negative connotation, few organizations use the term to refer to
themselves or their internal subdivisions. Among the exceptions is
Discordianism, in which the term is used to refer to an identifiable group
within the Discordian tradition.