From South American union to regional fragmentation: contradictions in UNASUR starting from Lula's government policies and the tensions with the ruling classes

Abstract

This article proposes to address some of the contradictions and asymmetries that took place in UNASUR starting from Lula’s government policies in Brazil. From a qualitative methodological design that includes interviews with key informants, official sources, document analysis and bibliography, we approach the tensions that took place starting on the reconstruction of some of the most relevant policies of the Brazilian State towards South America and in relation to the ruling classes. We reflect on the problems related to regional fragmentation after the impulse that recent integration processes had. In UNASUR’s singularity new questions are raised in its current break. These enable us to see on the one hand, the achievements in the South American regional integration policies that UNASUR impulsed. And on the other, underlying issues that persisted during its performance until its recent paralysis.

Keywords

• brazilian foreign policies
• regional integration
• unasur