Regionalism in Latin America: agents, systems and resilience

"This interdisciplinary edited volume explores the political economy of regionalism in Latin America. It identifies convergent forces which have existed in the region since its very conception and analyses these dynamics in their different historical, geographic and structural contexts. Particular attention is paid to key countries such as Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, as well as sub-regions like the Southern Cone and Central America. To understand the resilience of regionalism in Latin America, this book proposes to highlight four main issues. Firstly, that resilience is linked to mechanisms of self-enforcement that are part of the accumulation of experiences, institution building, and common cultural features described in this book as regionalist acquis. Secondly, the elements and driving forces behind the promotion and expression of the regionalist acquis are influenced and shaped by nested systems in which social processes are inserted. Thirdly, when looking at systems, there is a particular influence by national and global ones, which condition the form and endurance of regional projects. Finally, beyond systems, the book highlights the relevance of agents as crucial players in the shaping of the resilience of regionalism in Latin America. This insightful collection will appeal to advanced students and researchers in international economics, international relations, international political economy, economic history and Latin American studies."

Cover -- Half Title -- Series Page -- Title Page -- Copyright Page -- Contents -- List of tables -- List of contributors -- Introduction: resilience and regionalism: agents and structures -- 1 Resilience and acquis in Latin American regionalism -- 2 Why Central American regionalism never ends dying: a historical exploration of regional resilience -- 3 The Brazilian project of South American integration -- 4 Diplomats and technocrats in the construction of Latin American regionalism: autonomy and development as variables -- 5 The military and Latin American integration -- 6 Latin America and the Caribbean: from geopolitics to geopoetics -- 7 The Catholic Church and the resilience of regionalism -- 8 Entrepreneurs in Latin American regional integration from 1960 to 2018 -- Conclusions -- Index.