A Paradiplomacia e a cooperação descentralizada como instrumentos de integração fronteiriça no Mercosul

Abstract

This paper has the purpose to analyze the paradiplomacy (foreign policy activity of a subnational government) and the decentralized cooperation (joint actions of international cooperation for development between subnational units of different nation states) within Mercosur. First, it seeks to identify the context in which the subject is inserted, as well as its theoretical approach and conceptual explanation. Thereafter, the research will aim to find the ways in which subnational governments of the member countries of Mercosur can act within the block, as well as existing initiatives in this direction. Subsequently, it tries to establish a relationship between paradiplomacy, decentralized cooperation and border integration, discoursing about how these actions are developed in the border areas. Finally, the international insertion of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul is used as a case report to illustrate the issue empirically.