REGIONAL INTEGRATION IN LATIN AMERICA

Comparative theories and institutions

Andrés Malamud *

 

Resumo

Integração regional na América Latina: teorias e instituições comparadas

A integração regional na América Latina tem uma longa mas não bem sucedida história. Só na década de 1990 a criação de um bloco regional (o Mercosul) e o relançamento de outros dois (a Comunidade Andina de Nações e o Mercado Comum Centro-americano) permitiram entrever uma nova tendência. Os mencionados blocos apresentam uma série de características divergentes, entre elas o nível de integração e o tipo de institucionalização. Todavia, os três têm algo em comum: nenhum se adapta com facilidade às teorias sobre integração regional desenvolvidas a partir do caso europeu. Este artigo analisa as experiências de integração latino-americanas à luz das principais teorias contemporâneas, com o objectivo de detectar os desajustes entre teorias e factos e sugerir percursos complementares de investigação. Entre as sugestões propostas destaca-se o estudo da influência dos chefes de governo sobre a integração regional.

Palavras-chave Integração regional, instituições políticas, teorias, América Latina.

 

Abstract

Regional integration in Latin America: comparative theories and institutions

Regional integration in Latin America is a long but not-so-successful story. Only by 1990 the creation of a new regional bloc — namely Mercosur — and the relaunching of two previous attempts — the Andean Community of Nations and the Central American Common Market — allowed to envision a different trend. Today, the three referred blocs feature a series of divergent characteristics, among them the reached level of integration and the type of institutionalization. However, all three have something in common: none fits easily the theories of regional integration that were developed drawing on the European case. This paper analyzes the Latin American integration experience in light of the main contemporary integration theories, in order to pinpoint some inconsistencies between theories and cases with a view to guiding further research. Among the main findings is the increasing relevance of national executives as crucial driving force of the integration processes.

Key-words Regional integration, political institutions, theories, Latin America.

 

Résumé

Intégration régionale en Amérique Latine:théories et institutions comparées

L’intégration régionale en Amérique Latine possède une longue histoire, mais sans succès. Il a fallu attendre les années 90 pour entrevoir une nouvelle tendance, par la création d’un bloc régional (le Mercosur) et le relancement de deux autres (la Communauté andine de nations et le Marché commun centraméricain). Ces trois blocs présentent une série de caractéristiques divergentes, telles que leur niveau d’intégration et leur type d’institutionnalisation. Ils ont néanmoins un point commun: aucun ne s’adapte facilement aux théories sur l’intégration régionale développées à partir de l’exemple européen. Cet article analyse les expériences d’intégration latino-américaines à la lumière des principales théories contemporaines, afin de détecter les décalages entre les théories et les faits et de suggérer des parcours complémentaires de recherche. L’une des suggestions proposées est l’étude de l’influence des chefs de gouvernement sur l’intégration régionale.

Mots-clés Intégration régionale, institutions politiques, théories, Amérique Latine.

 

Resumen

Integracion regional en América Latina:teorías e instituciones comparadas

La integración regional en América Latina tiene una larga pero poco exitosa historia. Recién en la década de 1990 la creación de nuevos bloques regionales (el Mercosur) y el relanzamiento de previos intentos (la Comunidad Andina de Naciones y el Mercado Común Centroamericano) permitieron vislumbrar una nueva tendencia. Los mencionados bloques regionales presentan una serie de características divergentes, entre ellas el nivel de integración y el tipo de institucionalización. Sin embargo, todos tienen algo en común: ninguno se adapta fácilmente a las teorías sobre integración regional desarrolladas a partir del caso europeo. Este artículo analiza las experiencias de integración latinoamericanas a la luz de las principales teorías contemporáneas, con el objetivo de detectar los desajustes entre teorías y casos y sugerir rutas de investigación complementarias. Entre las propuestas se destaca el estudio del impacto de los ejecutivos nacionales sobre la integración regional.

Palabras-clave Integración regional, instituciones políticas, teorías, América Latina.

 

 

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* Andrés Malamud. Centro de Investigação e Estudos de Sociologia (CIES-ISCTE). E-mail: andres.malamud@iscte.pt