ABSTRACT

International relations in the Southern Cone are in a state of flux. During the 1990s, the countries of the region were struggling to overcome the legacy of many years of dictatorship. The process of transition impacted greatly on foreign policy formation in Argentina, Brazil and Chile. The abject failure of the military in Argentina impacted on Argentine society in general. It brought about a period of reflection as to what were the appropriate drivers of public policy. For Argentina, the risks of asserting an independent policy-line are outweighed by its desire to pursue an activist position in world affairs. The asymmetrical power relations in the pact do represent a threat to the agreement. Argentina seeks independence and autonomy through its engagement with Mercosur. In Chile, where authoritarian enclaves survived for much of the 1990s, the civilian authorities struggled to engage in the type of security cooperation that existed between Brazil and Argentina.