Role of Brazil in Latin American Integration Processes

From the beginning of the 21st century an increased attention has been paid to the achievements of so called "emerging powers" in the world economy and global politics. Given the initial disadvantageous position of developing countries in the international power constellation, new regional actors are forced to apply different leadership strategies than their predecessors. This paper examines the role of Brazil in Latin American integration processes with the aim to identify Brazilian foreign policy strategies used for promotion of its regional leadership and global recognition. Neoclassical causal chain of variables will be applied in order to identify main interest of Brazil in region formation and to determine the key domestic and foreign incentives motivating Brazil to pursue active regional integration. The concept of consensual hegemony will be applied in order to explain systemic outcome of Brazilian regional strategy