Regional Integration in Latin America: States, Markets and Organizations

Öz

This paper is based on the research related to regional integration attempts in Latin America and their effect on the economic development of Latin American countries. Recent analyses clarify that the US’ intervention in the politics of Latin America has been the main obstacle of the regional integration process. Most importantly, political fragmentation of the countries in the region affects the success of the organizations that are formed for the regional integration. This is especially visible in the political processes of the countries such as economic crises in Argentina, political instability in Venezuela and increasing migration to the US from Latin American countries. Notable studies reveal that despite the regional integration efforts, the economic benefits to the region has been limited compared to the benefit of the global economic powers. Different from the current literature, this paper focuses on the internal dynamics of Latin American countries. In this respect, this paper investigates the effect of the regional integration attempts for the economic development of the countries in Latin America. In this regard, the rational state behaviour was found as an important element to explain in relation to the Latin American integration attempts. With a liberal intergovernmentalist perspective, this paper aims to reveal the success of regional integration attempts in Latin America with the cases of Latin American Free Trade Association (LAFTA), Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR) and Andean Community (CAN). The main argument of this paper is that increasing economic cooperation and creating a reconstruction model with a financial assistance to the less developed countries in the region have led to a regional economic development in cohesion with the policies of the regional powers of Latin America.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Latin America
• Regional Integration
• Success
• Economic Development.

Regional Integration in Latin America: States, Markets and Organizations

Öz

Bu çalışma, Latin Amerika'daki bölgesel entegrasyon girişimleri ve bunların Latin Amerika ülkelerinin ekonomik kalkınması üzerindeki etkileri ile ilgili araştırmalara dayanmaktadır. Alan üzerine yapılan araştırmalar, ABD'nin Latin Amerika siyasetine müdahalesinin bölgesel entegrasyon sürecinin önündeki en büyük engel olduğunu ortaya koymaktadırlar. Bu açıdan bölge ülkelerinin siyasi olarak kutuplaşması, bölgesel entegrasyon için oluşturulan örgütlerin başarısını etkilemektedir. Bu durum, özellikle Arjantin'deki ekonomik krizler, Venezuela'daki siyasi istikrarsızlık ve Latin Amerika ülkelerinden ABD'ye artan göç gibi ülkelerin siyasi süreçlerinde kendini göstermektedir. Alan üzerine yapılmış çalışmalar, bölgesel entegrasyon çabalarına rağmen, bölgeye sağlanan ekonomik faydaların, küresel ekonomik güçlerin çıkarlarına kıyasla sınırlı kaldığını ortaya koymaktadır. Mevcut literatürden farklı olarak, bu çalışma Latin Amerika ülkelerinin iç dinamiklerine odaklanmaktadır. Bu bağlamda, bu çalışma bölgesel entegrasyon girişimlerinin Latin Amerika ülkelerinin ekonomik kalkınmasına etkisini incelemektedir. Bu bağlamda, devletlerin rasyonel politikalar takip etmeleri, Latin Amerika entegrasyon girişimleriyle ilişkili olarak açıklanması gereken önemli bir unsur olarak bulunmuştur. Liberal hükümetlerarasıcı bir bakış açısıyla bu çalışma, Latin Amerika Serbest Ticaret Birliği (LAFTA), Güney Ortak Pazarı (MERCOSUR) ve And Topluluğu (CAN) örnekleriyle Latin Amerika'daki bölgesel entegrasyon girişimlerinin başarısını ortaya koymayı amaçlamaktadır. Bu çalışmanın temel argümanı, ekonomik iş birliğinin artırılması ve bölgedeki az gelişmiş ülkelere yapılan mali yardımlarla yeniden yapılanma modelinin Latin Amerika'nın bölgesel güçlerinin politikalarıyla uyumlu bir bölgesel ekonomik kalkınmaya yol açmış olduğudur.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Latin Amerika
• Bölgesel Entegrasyon
• Başarı
• Ekonomik Kalkınma.

Kaynakça

1. Bouzas, R. Veiga, P.D.M. and Torrent, R. (2002). In-depth analysis of mercosur integration, its prospectives and the effects there of on the market access of EU goods, services and investment, Report presented to the Commission of the European Communities, https://www.sciencespo.fr/opalc/sites/sciencespo.fr.opalc/files/in- depth%20analysis%20of%20mercosur%20integration.pdf (Accessed 10.07.2022).
2. Brown, J. M., and Urpelainen, J. (2015). Picking treaties, picking winners: International treaty negotiations and the strategic mobilization of domestic interests. The Journal of Conflict Resolution, 59 (6), 1043–1073.
3. Bull, B., and Rosales, A. (2020). The crisis in Venezuela: Drivers, transitions, and pathways. European Review of Latin American and Caribbean Studies, 109, 1–20.
4. Caichiolo, C.R. (2017). The mercosur experience and theories of regional integration. Contexto Internacional, 39 (1), 117-134.
5. Caichiolo, R. (2019). Mercosur: Limits of regional integration. Erasmus Law Review, 3, 246-268.
6. Dönmez, S. (2022). Back to the past: Is the west moving from crisis management to full-spectrum deterrence including nuclear force?. Güvenlik Stratejileri Dergisi, 18 (42), 295-322.
7. Esteradeordal, A., Goto, J., and Saez, R. (2001). The new Regionalism in the Americas: The case of mercosur. Journal of Economic Integration, 16 (2), 180–202.
8. Féliz, M. (2007). A note on Argentina, its crisis, and the Theory of Exchange Rate Determination. Review of Radical Political Economics, 39 (1), 80–99.

9. Fiddian, R. (2003). Latin America and beyond. Interventions. 5 (1), 113-124.
10. Long, T. (2018). The US, Brazil and Latin America: the dynamics of asymmetrical regionalism. Contemporary Politics, 24 (1), 113-129.
11. Miller, N. (2006). The historiography of nationalism and national identity in Latin America. Nations and Nationalism, 12, 201-221.
12. Moravcsik, A. (1991). Negotiating the single European act: National interests and conventional statecraft in the European Community. International Organizations, 45 (1), 19-56.
13. Moravcsik, A. (1992). Liberalism and International Relations Theory. Harvard University, CFIA Working Paper No.92-6, Cambridge: Mass.
14. Moravcsik, A. (1993). Preferences and power in the European community: A liberal intergovernmentalist approach. Journal of Common Market Studies, Wiley Blackwell, 31 (4), 473-524.
15. Moravcsik, A. (1998). The choice for Europe. Social purpose and state power from Messina to Maastricht. Ithaca, NJ: Cornell University Press.
16. Morgenthau, H. J. (1973). Politics among Nations: The struggle for power and peace. 5th ed. New York: Alfred A Knopf.
17. Myllymaki, E. A. (1978). The problem of Militarism in Latin America. Ibero-Americana, VII/VIlI (2/1), 68-76.
18. Ocampo, J. A. (2020). Uncertainties surrounding the global economy and their implications for the global development agenda. High-level Advisory Board on Economic and Social Affairs (Ed.). Recover Better: Economic and Social Challenges and Opportunities (p. 14-33). New York: United Nations.
19. Pires M. and Nascimento L.G. (2020). The Monroe Doctrine 2.0 and U.S.-China-Latin America trilateral relations. International Organisations Research Journal, 15 (3), 202-222.
20. Rose, G. (1998). Review: Neoclassical Realism and Theories of Foreign Policy. World Politics, 51 (1), 144-172.
21. Sanint, R. L. (1995). Crop biotechnology and sustainability: A case study of Colombia, Working Paper No. 104. OECD Development Center, https://www.oecd.org/colombia/1920402.pdf (Accessed 10.08.2022).
22. Santander, S. (2005). The European partnership with Mercosur: A relationship based on strategic and neo-liberal principles. Journal of European Integration, 27 (3), 285-306.
23. Sautter, H. (1972). LAFTA’s successes and failures. Intereconomics, 7 (5), 149-152. SELA (2015). Assessment report on intra-regional trade in Latin America and the Caribbean, 1980-2013, Caracas: Permanent Secretariat of SELA, http://s017.sela.org/media/268490/assessment-report-on-intra-regional-trade-in-lac_- 1980-2013.pdf (Accessed 17.08.2022).
24. Solingen, E. (1993). Macropolitical consensus and lateral autonomy in industrial policy: The nuclear sector in Brazil and Argentina. International Organization, 47 (2), 263– 298.
25. Valladão, A.G.A. (2015). Europe and Latin America: Differing routes for regional integration. Mario Telò, Louise Fawcett, Frederik Ponjaert (Ed.) Interregionalism and the European Union: A Post-Revisionist Approach to Europe's Place in a Changing World (p. 109-126). London: Routledge.
26. Wrobel, P. S. (1998). A free trade area of the Americas in 2005? International Affairs, 74 (3), 547-561.