Géopolitique de la sécurité en Amérique du Sud : le rôle du Brésil et les dilemmes d’une région en transition

In the 2000s, the political integration project of South America gained prominence from the initiative of the countries of the region, especially Brazil. International security was a central theme in the search for South American political autonomy. On the one hand, there was institutional progress and renewal of defense structures and security of the region. On the other hand, the limitations imposed by the "hemispheric" condition (being in the immediate strategic environment of the United States) make it difficult to consolidate a more cohesive South American sphere. This paper explores these contradictions of the South American project based on the analysis of the political and strategic documents of the South American countries and of UNASUR, as well as data on defense expenditures and arms transfers.