Wasted opportunity

End of the Union of South American Nations

Abstract

At the time of the formation of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) in 2008, the new organization was expected to boost the regional integration among South American countries by involving new areas disregarded in previous initiatives. However, the political changes in the region, the advancement of the right-wing parties, and the tensions caused by the Venezuelan crisis have strained the cooperation, which has now virtually disintegrated. The aim of my analysis is to present the formation of the regional organization, formed with the most comprehensive concept, and to examine what results it was able to achieve during its short existence, especially in the field of security and defence policy, and to provide an overview of the future of South American regional cooperation.