BOLIVIA AND PARAGUAY: THE INTEGRATION OF SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRIES AS AN OBSTACLE TO CONFLICT

DUJIĆ Ivan (PhD. Research Fellow at the Institute of International Politics and Economics, Belgrade), ivan@diplomacy.bg.ac.rs

What can be said about Bolivia and Paraguay, the countries that are characterised by fragile democracy, high poverty rate, socio-economic and gender inequality, and the lack of the appropriate way to settle the inter-state disputes? Drawing on these characteristics, this paper aims to indicate that Bolivia and Paraguay, as the only two land-locked countries of South America, are able to find a way to cope with fragile democracy, poverty, socio-economic and gender inequality, and build a long-term peace based on mutual co-operation. Thanks to this ability, Bolivia and Paraguay are involved in the intricate process of regional integration. In this regard, they are responsible for preserving peace in South America through the resolution of internal issues. Instead of being prone to interstate conflicts, both countries are determined to resist the geopolitical transition of the global power that ranges from co-operation to conflict, working on the decision-making process in regional international organisations of South America.

Keywords: Bolivia, Paraguay, South America, internal issues, co-operation, peace, regional integration process