The Zombie of Latin American Regionalism: Why It Won't Die

Now, let’s talk about something that's an even bigger mess than a family holiday—Latin American regionalism. Yes, you read that right. It's like watching a soap opera where nothing ever gets resolved. You tune in, hoping for some kind of grand union, a happy ending where everyone gets along, and instead, you're left with squabbling countries, shattered alliances, and economic blocs that are about as sturdy as a house of cards in a hurricane. It’s tragic. It’s farcical. It’s... well, a bit like trying to park in central London.

So, what was the big idea? Well, there were these ambitious dreams. Think Mercosur, the Managua Treaty, the Pacific Alliance—names that sound more like secret spy organizations than actual economic agreements. These were supposed to turn Latin America into an economic powerhouse, a united front that could take on the world.

But, as José Briceño Ruiz from UNAM’s Center for Research on Latin America and the Caribbean rightly points out, that hasn’t happened. The idea was to create something resembling a common market, where everyone would play nicely, trade freely, and grow rich together. It’s the kind of vision that sounds perfect—until you realise you’re dealing with a continent where political stability is more elusive than a parking spot for a Ferrari.

And sure, there’s been a bit of progress in Central America. They’ve at least managed to start the process. But across the rest of the region? It’s been more like trying to knit a jumper with one arm tied behind your back and the knitting needles on fire.

The Usual Suspects

Now, if you ask why this integration has failed, you’ll get the usual excuses. Exogenous factors—the external stuff—are the easy ones to blame. Post-pandemic recovery is a favorite. We all know the COVID-19 pandemic left a trail of economic destruction that’s still being cleaned up. Add in global crises like Ukraine, Gaza, or whatever happens to be exploding on the news today, and you’ve got a perfect excuse for why nothing’s working.

But let’s not forget the endogenous issues—the ones that come from within. This is where the real fun begins. We’ve got countries across Latin America teetering on the brink of democracy, or in some cases, plunging headfirst into autocratic chaos. Bolivia, Brazil, Guatemala, Venezuela—each one seems to be going through its own political crisis, like an unruly family Christmas dinner where no one can agree on anything, and someone’s about to throw the turkey out the window.

Take, for example, Jair Bolsonaro. When he was in charge of Brazil, he didn’t even bother to talk to Argentina’s president Alberto Fernández. And now, with Javier Milei in the mix, there’s a new flavour of lunacy on the scene. Milei, a man who apparently thinks it’s good politics to insult Brazil’s Lula da Silva, is only adding fuel to the fire. It’s like watching toddlers fight over who gets the last cookie—except these toddlers have armies and nuclear power.

A Dependence Nobody Wanted

Speaking of Brazil, it’s hard to ignore their current conundrum. Roberto Goulart Menezes, a professor at the University of Brasilia, sums it up quite well. Brazil is being pulled into China’s orbit like a stray asteroid getting sucked into a black hole. And while you might think, “Ah, China’s a good trading partner,” the reality is a bit more alarming. Brazil’s dependency on China is growing at a time when they should really be focusing on economic diversification. It’s like going all-in on one horse at the Grand National—if that horse stumbles, you’re out of the game.

And let’s not kid ourselves—Lula da Silva’s government isn’t exactly in a position to push for active international policies right now. Between the extreme right in the national congress and a polarized society, Lula’s just trying to keep the domestic show on the road. His political energy is like the last drop of fuel in a petrol tank—you can’t do much more than coast along.

Then there’s the Pacific Alliance, another promising idea that somehow veered off course. Juan Pablo Prado Lallande from the Benemérita Universidad de Puebla describes its situation with the kind of resigned optimism that would make even the most hopeful football fan despair.

Initially, the Pacific Alliance took a political left turn, aligning ideologically and thinking this shift would help things. Spoiler alert: it didn’t. Presidential disagreements, like the one between Mexico and Colombia with Peru, have thrown this alliance into a deep freeze. Yet, every now and then, there’s a flicker of life. A brief moment of diplomatic pragmatism, a glimmer of hope. Mexico and Chile managed to revive it for a bit, but then it froze again, like an old car that only works on sunny days.

The Walking Dead of Regionalism

So, is Latin American regionalism dead? Not quite. It’s like a zombie. It’s technically still moving, occasionally twitching in a corner, but it’s not doing anything particularly useful. As Prado Lallande says, no country has officially pulled out of these agreements. They’re still holding on, if only because they don’t have anything better to do. They’re surviving, not thriving.

Some cooperation still happens, but real integration? Forget about it. These countries are like siblings who occasionally text each other but would rather not meet for Christmas. They’re there, sort of, but the family gathering is always one bad joke away from total disaster.

In the end, Latin American regionalism is a bit like that broken-down car you keep in the garage, hoping one day you’ll have the time and energy to fix it. But every time you look at it, you realize it’s more trouble than it’s worth. The crisis of Latin American regionalism is the result of failed actors, poor goals, and a political landscape that makes Game of Thrones look straightforward.

And yet, somehow, it’s still there. Lurking. Existing. Waiting for the day when someone finally gets their act together. Will that day come? Maybe. But if the past is anything to go by, don’t hold your breath.