Regionalism, Institutional Crisis, and Subnational Integration: (Dis)Continuities in a Fragmented Latin America

Abstract

"The section on Latin American regional institutions starts with a discussion on the current stagnation of regionalism. The chapter “Regionalism, institutional crisis, and subnational integration: (dis)continuities in a fragmented South America” by Cairo Gabriel Borges Junqueira, Barbara Carvalho Neves, and Luan Oliveira Pessoa analyzes regional fragmentation processes in South America. The authors suggest that the regionalism crisis makes it harder for South American countries to implement the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They analyze the dismantling of regional forums in South America, but also stress markers of resilience, arguing that subnational actors are assuming significant roles in the promotion and maintenance of regionalism. They contextualize the contemporary dynamics of South American regionalism and present analytical and empirical markers for understating the action of subnational governments to promote regionalism. Additionally, the chapter maps subnational initiatives for the construction of regional infrastructure, needed for socio-economic development and to mitigate existent asymmetries. This discussion dialogues with SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure)." (Book's Introduction, p. 12)