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Social Sciences › Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations
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Paper Summary
Paperzilla title
Did the Cold War Boost European Integration? (Small Sample Alert!)
This paper argues that the end of the Cold War marked a turning point in European integration. The study suggests a correlation between increased Eurosceptic voting and decreased delegation of powers to supranational bodies after the Cold War, supported by analysis based on a small set of decades and a limited selection of EU member states. This is interpreted as a shift from between-group to within-group selection pressures.
Possible Conflicts of Interest
None identified
Identified Weaknesses
Small sample size for statistical tests
The sample size of decades (N=5) used for statistical tests, such as Pearson correlation and t-tests, is extremely small. Such a limited sample makes it difficult to draw reliable conclusions about the relationship between Eurosceptic voting and EU integration. Robust statistical analysis requires a larger sample to ensure the observed patterns are not due to random chance.
Limited selection of EU states
The paper focuses on a limited selection of EU member states for analysis (core EU states + UK). This does not allow to draw conclusions about the broader dynamics of Euroscepticism and integration within the EU-27 and beyond. The political and historical contexts vary considerably across EU states, including those that joined later.
Correlation presented as causation
The paper's core argument implies causality, suggesting that the end of the Cold War *caused* the shift in dynamics regarding EU integration. While plausible, this causal link is not robustly established. Other unmeasured historical or political factors may have played a role concurrently.
Rating Explanation
This paper presents an interesting hypothesis about the relationship between geopolitical context and EU integration. However, the small sample size, limited country selection, and correlation-as-causation weaken the conclusions. The analysis is well-structured, but the limitations prevent a higher rating.
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Original Title:
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draft.pdf
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July 31, 2025 at 02:30 PM
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