We apply network science principles to analyze the coalitions formed by
European Union (EU) nations and institutions during litigation proceedings at
the European Court of Justice. By constructing Friends and Foes networks, we
explore their characteristics and dynamics through the application of cluster
detection, motif analysis, and duplex analysis. Our findings demonstrate that
the Friends and Foes networks exhibit disassortative behavior, highlighting the
inclination of nodes to connect with dissimilar nodes. Furthermore, there is a
correlation among centrality measures, indicating that member states and
institutions with a larger number of connections play a prominent role in
bridging the network. An examination of the modularity of the networks reveals
that coalitions tend to align along regional and institutional lines, rather
than national government divisions. Additionally, an analysis of triadic binary
motifs uncovers a greater level of reciprocity within the Foes network compared
to the Friends network.Comment: 13 pages 11 figures, style and bibtex files include