“Do Numbers Matter? The CFSP and the Dynamic Effects of Enlargement”

This paper starts with a general discussion about how the collective action literature has treated the issue of group size. This discussion then turns to deciding how applicable the general propositions of collective action are to the case of enlargement, and some suggestions are put forward on how the general model must be complemented with some additional assumptions before it can be used to explain the effects of enlargement. Then follows the main part of the paper: the narrowing down and specification of the model to fit precisely the issue of effects on the CFSP. In the end, it will be argued that the net effect of enlargement on the CFSP has, in three cases out of four so far, been positive. This is due to a couple of different dynamic effects that could, by want of better concepts, be called the shadow of enlargement and size adjustments. These dynamics will under most circumstances offset the rather intuitive negative effects from the increase in number of participants. With this framework as a basis, the paper ends with a very brief look ahead on the next enlargement(s).