The Venezuelan Crisis and Brazil's South American Policy

Abstract

The  political  crisis  in  Venezuela  is  one  of  the  most  important  regional  developments  for  Brazil in 2016, along with its own domestic crisis and the presidency of macri in Argentina. michel  Temer’s  new  government  has  showed  a  willingness  to  undertake  changes  in  the  foreign  policy  of  Brazil.  The  Venezuelan  crisis  is  a  crucial  variable  to  analyse  the  political  realignments  after  years  of  gradual  progress  in  south  American  regional  integration.  The  position  taken  against  maduro’s  government  symbolises  a  swerve  towards  uncertainty  in  mercosur and happens in the context of external pressure to sign inter-regional economic agreements. Unfortunately, the fragility of democracy is not an exclusive feature of Venezuela in  south  America,  but  a  recurrent  regional  phenomenon.  This  intense  political  dispute  has  roots  in  the  different  economic  models  proposed  for  the  region.  in  the  2000s  Brazil  reached  a  stable  development  path,  called  the  Logistic  state,  which  combines  elements  from neoliberalism and social developmentalism. Currently, the country needs to revitalise Mercosur  and  persuade  the  South American  leaders  on  the  benefits  of  regionalism  over unrestrained  globalisation.  however,  it  is  probable  that  the  regional  crisis  will  continue  for  the  coming  years.  Thus,  Brazil  may  progressively  lose  the  position  of  regional  leader  and  interlocutor with the outside world; and a disordered process of globalisation may permeate south America.