Geopolitics and geo-economics of the South American Community of Nations : Brazil the " catalyst " and MERCOSUR a "center of gravity "

Abstract

The foundation of the Community of South American nations (CSN) is the most important event that occurred in the process of Latin American and the Caribbean integration since the 1960s. Its means to create a regional system of integration, to begin a new way of integration and to try a new model in the middle of summits and other negotiations such as ALCA. The CSN seeks a geopolitic and geoeconomic reallocation of South America in the context of the Americas and the new emergent world. The foundation of the CSN is mainly due to Brazil's role as "catalyst" of the MERCOSUR and the Caribbean and Latin America integration; and to the role of the MERCOSUR as a "gravitating center" among the regional integration process.