Identity in Mercosur: Regionalism and Nationalism

In: Global governance: a review of multilateralism and international organizations, Volume 21, Issue 1

Abstract

Two trends have historically competed in the Latin American region: a strong nationalist vision that originates in the nineteenth century with the construction of the nation-state, and the idea of a unifying project in the face of an 'external enemy.' This article first provides an overview of these two notions by addressing the performance of the Southern Common Market in the past decade and highlighting the emergence of Mercosur's collective identity. Then, the role of ideas and identity is examined to analyze how it configures and constrains the decisionmaking process and how this role conditions the regional identity. Finally, a reflection on the collective identity as it relates to Mercosur is offered. Adapted from the source document.