The paper reviews the pursuit of joint environmental positions within Mercosur considering the evolution of the regional process. Based on social constructivism it seeks to identify contributions of epistemic communities and civil society to define an environmental agenda for Brazil and Argentina and outlines some perspectives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
This article comments on some of the criticisms made to the proposal of a currency union among the Mercosur countries. It is clarified that the proposal must be understood as a target to be achieved after fulfilling a set of requirements. Besides, it is explained why the autor believes that the interpretation that the proposal would only be beneficial to Argentina is wrong and why some of the other criticisms, even being correct, do not invalidate the monetary unification. The paper concludes with a reflection about the Brazilian necessity of defining which role the country intends to play in the world, in 15 or 20 years. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
*INTERNATIONAL relations, *STRATEGIC planning, *POLITICAL leadership, *ECONOMIC history
Abstract
This paper aims to be a reflection on the importance of the Brazil and Argentina closer relations in the nuclear field, in the late eighties and early nineties, as the basis for building a new relationship that replaced a historical rivalry. The aproximation process has begun with apparently economic purposes, but also had a strategic dimension. The repercussions of this effort went beyond immediate bilateral interests, reflected in the search for a new international insertion by both countries, at a time of deep transformations, both internally and internationally. The Brazil-Argentina integration program (that later also involved Uruguay) and MERCOSUL led to the establishment of a political-legal structure that created a reality that goes beyond economics to the political domain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]