Who Speaks for Mercosur?

hilal sahin

Elite mediation and the politics of the EU–Mercosur deal in Brazil and Argentina

Timeframe: 06/12/2024 – 31/12/2026

Brazil · Trade Policy

Key Insights

• Main question: Who gets to speak for Mercosur in the EU–Mercosur deal? Argument: In Brazil and Argentina, the deal is filtered through elite mediation, not neutral state interest. Agribusiness, export coalitions and investor-confidence politics shape how integration is framed. Conclusion: The agreement is as much about representation and power as it is about trade.

Definition

Elite mediation: the process through which organised domestic actors filter external agreements and shape how their benefits, costs and political meaning are presented.

The EU–Mercosur agreement is being mediated through domestic elite structures in Brazil and Argentina, while many of its social costs are likely to be dispersed across everyday life.

Documents: 📂 Source Document