Introduction

Foreign policy formation in less powerful nations receives little attention. From the realist perspective, power is the primary determinant in the area of international relations and so the focus is directed onto the locations where power is concentrated. In the case of Chile trade considerations were the key drivers of foreign policy. In examining the foreign policies of Argentina, Brazil and Chile after the dictatorships a number of wider issues arise. Primary amongst these are the changes that have taken place in global trade over the decades. Regionalism has a long history in Latin America and important questions surround this element of the Mercosur regional project. From the perspective of the discipline of International Relations the question arises as to which paradigm of thought or combination of ideas best explain the realities of foreign policy formation in the countries of the Southern Cone.