This article was published in Spanish on Equilibrium Global, Argentina. (Collaboration from Argentina by Martín López, Equilibrium Global member).

The Venezuelan Alí Rodríguez, acting Secretary General of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR)[i], told reporters about his confidence that the governments of the regional organization can get “very soon” to agree to appoint a new holder, after several months negotiations without result. We can take these statements as a representative background to consider aspects of institutional functioning of the organization by the reason of that message was expressed in November 2013, and certainly it has not had resonance in the press. Ali Rodriguez said that in previous times when the foreign ministers of UNASUR member countries had a meeting in New York, during the General Assembly of the United Nations 2013, to negotiate the post of Secretary General UNASUR, but there, no agreement was reached and they have not been able to name anyone. If this were to happen in Europe, it would be a real diplomatic- political failure, but in South America we are so distant from the international issues that no one has noticed about that.

Another hallmark is listening to discursive axes of the leaders with their customs of providing declarations fill with enthusiasm, as the case of Ecuador Foreign Minister Ricardo Patiño , who argued that the re-election of Michelle Bachelet as president of Chile, will allow the strengthening of UNASUR. This, because the current Chilean president was one of the major drivers of the integration process. Although Ecuadorian Foreign Minister could not help the sincerity and acknowledged that there was some weakening of UNASUR as a result of the issues surrounding the operation of the General Secretariat.

Shortly after the expiration of three years from the entry into force of UNASUR (March 11, 2011), the non-agreement between the partners to replace the higher charge of the entity is itself representative of how motion the process of institutional development of the South American organization. No one can doubt about the good intentions and declarations of political leaders in the region, but many may question his “down to reality”.

In South America, we have some facility to create agencies and overlay (without going into further detail, it is the region with the largest number of integration projects in the world), so also we have leaders who describe us so fascinating about how to deal the path of integration.

However, the fact is that the first impression to a brief analysis is that it does not go precisely from cooperation to integration. While discussing what is gained with the “integration” is a wide debate at hand .

UNASUR, which emerged from the political impetus of the Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, is at a turning point where the perception is widespread in the community about the strong ideological – political orientation and therefore difficult to contain “all voices” under a project “integrator for all citizens of South America”.

A context for definitions.

The present times are characterized by uncertainty and the transformations in the reconfiguration of the international system of nations, where there is no longer a single power pole monopolize decisions, but different regional poles emerge looking its role in the international arena. Therefore, the present must have “clear signs”, which define the foreign policy of states and their performance in associative organizations.

In this context, it is imperative for an organization to bear for the common agenda of the most strategic points of the countries of the region, many of whom have high consensus and are essential to a future of peace and prosperity for the region. For example: the ratification of democratic principles through electoral observation missions and support, the fight against drug dealing and the management of natural resources, among other issues.

Such context, requires political leadership of the heads of state, who can mark with great determination the advantages of capitalizing the benefits of the South American potential in an integration unit, which will allow to a better positioning before the world, as regional political bloc.

Comparisons don’t count.

The action lines drawn by many political are superimposed by other projects, often to the detriment of others; so, though it tells us about the “complementarity”, we may wonder: How do you reach people with a clear message?

CELAC as a case:

A few days before the start of the crisis, the President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, said the aim of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC)[ii] is to create a “shared development, complementary, solidarity, respecting asymmetries beyond the Simple trade” and as a way to counter the Pacific Alliance , comprising Chile, Colombia , Peru and Mexico , and is moving towards a regional free trade area . These words always resonate in UNASUR , but truly are “wildcard”.

The Peruvian congressman Manuel Dammert , expressed his optimism about a UNASUR which advances with good prospects for integration at the expense of Pacific Alliance, which the congressman understand like a coalition with geopolitical interests subject to the U.S..

The Peruvian congressman Manuel Dammert , expressed his optimism about a UNASUR advances with good prospects for integration at the expense of Pacific Alliance, which meant as a coalition with geopolitical interests subject to U.S..

Today, UNASUR is looking for a response to the crisis in Venezuela[iii] , and many see the opportunity to find an argument to identify that UNASUR has more “capability” that the OAS[iv], but we leave this point for further discussion aside comparisons and better we ask: What is the institutional model that can “contain” and advance in a particular line in order to capitalize the benefits of integration in South America? Thus, we should turn our gaze towards leaders who will be able to raise the flame to hold the spirit of UNASUR, although it won’t be easy to achieve if they are away from people .

  celac, Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, equilibrium global, south america, unasur, Union of South American Nations