SOUTH AMERICAN REGIONAL INTEGRATION FACING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A GEOPOLITICAL IMPACT ANALYSIS IN MERCOSUR AND REGION

Abstract

The world is currently experiencing an unprecedented combination of crises caused by the pandemic of COVID-19. The main crisis, which mainly affects global public health, is the epidemiological one. Added to this there are a deep economic crisis and a geopolitical crisis, characterized by the competition of global powers. In this sense, the objective of this article is to analyze the economic impacts of COVID-19 pandemic in the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) from a geopolitical perspective. We adopt a qualitative and analytical approach, relying on the theoretical contributions of Geopolitics and the data regarding the economic and health crises in the MERCOSUR countries. The main research techniques are the bibliographic review of articles, books, theses, and news covering the topics abovementioned, and the consultation of primary sources such as documents and government’s official websites to compile and systematize data on the COVID-19 crisis in the Mercosur countries and the economy of the bloc countries. The results show that Mercosur’s trade relations have been deeply affected by the current crisis. In this sense, if the geopolitical trend of regional disintegration continues, it is likely that the region’s post-pandemic economic and social recovery will be slow and difficult.

Keywords

• regional integration
• south america
• mercosur
• covid-19
• pandemic