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of consolidation of South American borders in the light of regional integration, from the

beginning of the 16th century to the present day. To this end, we mobilize conceptual elements

from the field of history and geopolitics to analyze the main developments and lines of thought

used during the construction process of South America. The argument of the article is that the

regional dynamics result from the tension (or dialectic) between the (geo)political centers and

the border areas, inserting itself in the processes of internal consolidation of the South American

nations. As a result, we can affirm the historical resistance, on the part of the nations of the

South American continent, in politically deepening the process of regional integration,

particularly in light of the experience lived during the global pandemic.

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from the colonial era to the republican period at the end of the 19th century, quickly passing

through the wars of independence. The second section starts from the post-war period in 1945,

a period marked by regional initiatives to encourage development on the continent, from the

1950s to the mid-1990s. Finally, the last section aims to briefly present current social issues in

South America, from the perspective of current issues (political, commercial and public health).

routes, shifting efforts from the Mediterranean region to the Atlantic. This began with the

The Church was one of the central institutions of the Ibero-American colonial project.

In fact, mass catechization by the Jesuits satisfied the indigenous populations, forming a

mestizo elite. This elite was dedicated to economic and administrative activities, such as

triangular trade (GUILLERMON, 1992). On the other hand, it is notorious that local mestizo

elites were formed, which played a unique role in reproducing coloniality, articulated in the

dialectic between knowledge and power (QUIJANO, 2005).

From the point of view of territorial management, Portuguese America opted to set up a

system of hereditary captaincies, located along the coasts of present-day Brazil. These were

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unable to sustain a flourishing trade because of the many difficulties. Little by little, the South

American territories were transformed from a place of primary production into a kind of

platform for the international slave market between Africa, Europe and the Americas

(VESPÚCIO, 2003).

development strengthened local economies and was a factor in the consolidation of powerful

treaties were signed to liberalize maritime trade in South America. This was particularly the

case with the opening of ports to British companies in Brazil (CLIMACO, 2010).

The Napoleonic Wars in Europe accelerated the process of the War of Independence,

spreading like wildfire in the first decade of the 19th century. In Spanish America, personalities

such as José de San Martin and Simon Bolívar were born and left their mark on these

major geopolitical stake in the Southern Cone (FREGA, 2011).

These independence movements were marked by the rejection of the demands of the

who wanted to maintain their influence over these states. Thus, at the end of the 19th century,

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the South American states began to adopt republican models, which put an end to the time of

empires in South America (CERVO; BUENO, 1992).

consolidate the interior of these strategic spaces (Amazonia in Brazil, with the important

such as those linked to the demarcation of national borders (COMPAGNON, 2013).

One of the important issues of the time was Bolivia's access to the sea and the conflict

1903. A diplomat also played a key role in Brazil's territorial consolidation. Indeed, the Baron

of Rio Branco, José Maria da Silva Paranhos Junior, was the basis of an arduous work of

diplomatic negotiations with neighboring countries. He skilfully used international arbitration

to define Brazil's vast borders, whether with the contested French Guiana (recognized in 1900)

or as already mentioned in the west of the country with Acre (BUENO, 2012).

time, the Chaco War (1932-1935) between Bolivia and Paraguay had a lasting impact on South

America. This is linked to Bolivia's defeat during the War of the Pacific, but also because of the

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there was the attempt to build a Pan-American confederation. Despite its failure, the Pan-

main regional blocs: the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) and the Andean Community

which also favored the creation of the European Communities (in 1957, with the Treaty of

Rome). This project was also linked to the economic thinking developed within the framework

of the Economic Commission for Latin America (ECLAC), created in 1948 (QUENAN;

Cepalist thinking was forged around import substitution industrialization and regional

integration as a strategy for the economic development of developing countries. The creation

of the Institute for Latin American Integration (IILA) through the Inter-American Development

Bank (IDB) in 1966 reflected the importance given to regional integration at the time. With the

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integration project in 1991. The opening up to other countries in the region as associate

entry into the world's regional integration blocs (DABÈNE, 1995). Based on historical

precedents, the Mercosur member states signed the Declaration of Democratic Commitment in

1996, in which they reaffirmed their full adherence to democratic principles and institutions,

Regional asymmetries, linked to the demographic weight of Brazil and the financial

crisis in Argentina, made it difficult for the regional bloc to flourish, a determining factor in the

rejection of the opening of a more intense process of regional integration at the end of the 1990s.

It was at this time that the Initiative for South American Regional Integration (IIRSA) was

conceived. The aim was to stimulate the financing of major investment projects in ten major

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Those who are more inclined to develop a more autonomist policy. Finally, Unasur has

been criticized by some nations on the continent, arguing that it would serve Brazil as a

diplomatic platform to exert its influence with the great powers. One of President Lula's stated

objectives was the reform of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), with the arrival of

of regional integration has become more complex, notably due to the fragmentation of

economic alliances, which are more pragmatic. We are referring here to the rise of the North

American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and the Pacific Alliance (2011) in the early 2000s