Introduction “ The economy and multinational supply chains do not abide

by political boundaries. A computer ordered in Brazil is designed in California and assembled in several other countries. Economic integration was the first strong evidence of a new era Eduardo Paes (2011) .”

source: www.brainyquote.com

Region his is an area of land that has

common features. It can be defined by

natural or artificial features. Such as

Language, government, or religion can

define a region, as can forests, wildlife,

or climate. Regions, large or small, are

the basic units of geography.(National

Geographic 2011)

Integration the Miriam Webster

dictionary refers to the process of

bringing people of different racial or

ethnic groups into unrestricted and

equal association, as in society or an

organization there by creating some

aspect of desegregation.

Map showing the first integrated groupings of Latin America and the Caribbean

Source: http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/features/grancolombia.jpg

Regional integration however is seen as the

process by which two or more nation-states

agree to co-operate and work closely

together to achieve peace, stability and

wealth. Usually the process involves one or

more written agreements that describe the

areas of cooperation in detail, as well as

some coordinating bodies representing the

countries involved (McCormick, 1999).

Types

Economic

Political

Environmental

Geo space

Physical landscape : vast with both

island and mainland territories .

Area:19095700 IN 2014 Countries:

approx. 42 with several dependent

territories

Population: 641,029,306 as of April 17th

2016,https://www.populationmedia.org/news/daily-email-

recap/?gclid=CMSyj8b9lswCFZVahgoda_YOZA

Languages : French, Spanish ,English,

Portuguese , Dutch and those of the

indigenous peoples.

Physical Latin America and the CaribbeanSource http://www.realworldadventures.com/centralamerica/Physical%20Map%20of%20Central%20America%20and%20the%20Caribbean_files/caribbean.jpg

Levels of economic integration

Free Trade Area: In a free trade

area all barriers to the trade of

goods and services among

member countries are removed

e.g. Carifta.

Customs Union: eliminates

trade barriers between

member-countries and adopts

a common external trade

policy.

E.g. Andean pact

Common Market: The ideal common market has no barriers to trade between member-countries and a common external trade policy. It includes the free movement of labor and capital

e.g. Caricom

Economic Union: An Economic Union involves the free flow of products and factors of production between member-countries and the adoption of a common external trade policy. It includes a common currency and tax regulations.

e.g. E.U

History

Latin America

South America’s first grand

integration efforts began in the

early nineteenth century under

the leadership of General Simón

Bolivar during the wars of

independence. He envisioned

uniting northern South America

into Gran Colombia, and creating

a league of American republics .

His philosophy was recharged in

the 1990s by the Venezuelan

president

Simón Bolivar

Hugo Chaves

Caribbean

During the early twentieth century

a number of West Indian leaders

and institutions pursued the

concept of federation.eg:

W.G.Donovan

T.A.Marryshow

A.A. Cipriani

The West Indian Labor Congress

Reasons for integration

Power in in numbers – smaller countries have less bargaining power ( OECS )

No one knows you like your neighbor. ( ANDEAN PACT )

Military support after the cold and world wars

Similar geographical landscape and climatic conditions

Similar cultural and historical background

The belief and scientific fact is that no one country has every resource has created global partnerships. Those who have land may not have human resources etc thus the need for regional integration.

To bring about FUNTIONAL CO-OPERATION- to encourage co-operation among member states in areas of health, education, law disaster, relief, agriculture, communication, financing, and industrial relations

Source :http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/research/files/reports/2012/7/07-summit-of-the-americas/07-economic-integration-estevadeordal.pdf

Diagrams of political ties , financial status and economic influencers of regional integration

Source: https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_8Pig0ilodC6VjCvzB6DMGsB0QMEQtvMvp-6t18zyns6FSN2kgQhttps://sperglord.files.wordpress.com/2012/04/celac-pie.png

Reasons for integration

Early Efforts

Gran Columbia 1819

Bolivian union 1825

United Provinces of South America 1850

Commercial Bureau of the American Republics 1889

Pan American Union 1901 turn Organization of America states (OAS) 1951

Federal Republic of Central America1840

Federation (1958-1962)

Independence Movement (1962)

Carifta (1968-1973)

OECS (1981)

Caricom (1973)

Source: http://www.coha.org/21st-century-regionalism-where-is-latin-america-headed/

Source:

Bodies

OAS- (1950’S) focuses on four broad objectives: democracy promotion, human rights, economic and social development, and regional security cooperation.

CELAC-Community Latin America and Caribbean states

Mercosur- Union of southern cone countries

Andean community-members of the Andean trade pact.

UNASUR- was conceived in an agreement dating back to 2004 that sought to promote regional integration by bringing together members of Mercosur and the Andean Community of Nations

CICA- Central American integration systems.

Caricom-Caribbean community and common market

OECS- Organization of Eastern Caribbean States

CARICOM

Type : economic ( common market)

Formation : 1973

Aims: to guide the work of the Member States, Associate States and Community Institutions and Bodies that make up CARICOM in the areas of Agriculture, CARICOM Single Market and Economy (CSME), Crime and Security, Culture, Education, Energy, Environment and Sustainable Development, Foreign Policy and Community Relations, Gender, Health Sector Development and Human Development

Members : Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Haiti, Jamaica, Montserrat, Saint Lucia, St Kitts and Nevis, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago,

Associate Members, Anguilla, Bermuda , British Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands

OAS

Type : political and environmental

alliance of nations.

Formation: 1951

Aims:

Provide support, in areas of its technical

expertise, to the political organs of the

OAS.

Formulate and execute technical

cooperation projects within its field of

expertise.

Facilitate exchanges of information on

sustainable development in the region.

Members : all 35 independent

countries of the Americas

http://www.oas.org/dsd/MissionObject.htm

Major integration groupings

Failures and challenges

Disputes between neighbors -

Guyana, Columbia and Venezuela

Unasur

Language culture barriers- Haiti and

Suriname in Caricom

Political ties and preferences

outside of the group- communist

favored trade of Venezuela

Free trade and tax stipulations-

Brazil an Argentina in Mercosur

Source: http://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-what-unasur

Changing political entities ( governments

and policies )– Venezuela in UNASUR.

Environmental change – Haiti in Caricom

Policy disagreement- Argentina , Brazil and Columbia sites on human right violations in the OAS.

Larger more developed countries feeling burdened – e.g. Jamaica and Trinidad in the West Indian federation

Source: http://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-what-unasur

Future the way forward

Realize that Trade will always be a dynamic process owing to constantly fluctuating markets

The creation of even policies that have mechanisms where countries may opt out without facing discrimination.

Removal of bans and embargos outside trade areas and create a preferences systems which speak to quality of produce.

Ensure policies are unbiased larger countries within the group

Outline clearly all visions, goals and stipulations.

Source: http://www.alternative-regionalisms.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/07/iglesias-12lessons.pdf

References

Wallace, Elizabeth, The breakup of the West Indies Federation-(Caribbean

Freedom end H.Beckles an V Shepherd)

James, C. L. R. Party Politics in the West Indies (pp159-164)

Claypole,W & Robottom,J. Caribbean Story Book 2 (pg 123-147)

Prebisch, R, Power, Principle, and the Ethics of Development , Argentina ,

2008.

McCormick, J ,The European Union: Politics and Policies. Westview Press:

Boulder Colorado, 1999.

https://www.iisd.org/pdf/2007/tas_rta_latin_america.pdf

http://www.as-coa.org/articles/explainer-what-unasur

: http://www.alternative-regionalisms.org/wp-

content/uploads/2009/07/iglesias-12lessons.pdf

http://www.historytoday.com/sites/default/files/features/grancolombia.jpg