Ideological changes and pragmatism in the Pacific Alliance

Abstract

AbstractSince its creation a decade ago, the Pacific Alliance has established itself as one of the most important regional blocs in Latin America. Its free‐market orientation, clearly neoliberal, and its pragmatic decision‐making strategy have been highlighted as its main strengths. This article will demonstrate that, despite the ideological changes that have taken place in its members, the Alliance will continue to be an important tool in these members' respective foreign policies. Precisely because of its pragmatism, the coming to power in Peru and Chile of governments critical of neoliberalism did not affect the development of the Pacific Alliance. Likewise, the political changes that have occurred more recently in Chile, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru do not seem to imply a weakening of the of it. By contrast, following its pragmatic profile, the new ideological framework prevailing in the Alliance could serve to face the difficult situation and advance in bloc's process of deep integration.