Neo-Developmentalism and Regional Integration: IIRSA Impact in the Environmental Agenda in the Amazon

Abstract

The regional integration policy in Latin America was based on the premises of the Initiative for the Integration of the Regional Infrastructure of South America (IIRSA), seen as a development strategy adopted by the regional political elites and as an instrument of Brazilian foreign policy. Focusing on the projects undertaken in the Amazon Hub, the article analyzes the integration strategy and its impact on environmental regulation. The paper highlighted the role played by the developmentalism goals in the region regarding the environmental regulation, adopting a model of integration encompassing a reduction of natural resources stock, which is a strategic feature for sustainable development policies. This chapter results from descriptive research, based on secondary data and official documents available from the involved institutions. They analyze the Brazilian government’s neo-developmentalism goals to understand how the environmental agenda in Pan Amazon was affected.

Untitled

“…In December 2004, in Cuzco, Peru, upon the foundation of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR), twelve participant Presidents, including the leaders of Ecuador, Bolivia, and Venezuela (ALBA member-countries), confirmed their commitment to the IIRSA initiative. IIRSA is an initiative clearly framed within the parameters of the Washington Consensus, outlining an open regionalism agenda that recommends deregulation of the economy and liberalization of foreign trade in Latin American countries (Cardoso-Castro and Ravena, 2020).…”

“…IIRSA executes regional integration based on four 'hubs' comprehending the Amazon region and integrating infrastructure projects from Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela (Cardoso-Castro and Ravena, 2020). According to Cardoso-Castro and Ravena (2020), the Amazon territory, transversal between Peru, Brazil and Bolivia, concentrated projects related to ports and waterways, roads, seaports, air transportation and borders crossing, electrical and hydroelectrical power plants.…”