Definiciones de la identidad del Uruguay durante el primer gobierno del Frente Amplio

Abstract

espanolDesde el proceso de redemocratizacion, Uruguay ha tenido que enfrentar diversos cambios en el sistema internacional, y mas inmediatamente en el contexto economico y politico regional, lo que ha derivado en la realizacion de sustanciales cambios en la politica exterior del pais. A partir del estudio de los principales cambios en materia de politica externa, desde la apertura democratica (1985), con especial atencion en los principios sobre los que se ha estructurado la politica exterior desde inicios del s. XXI, mas especificamente desde la asuncion como gobierno de la coalicion de partidos Frente Amplio (FA) en 2005, el presente trabajo analiza cuales han sido los dilemas en materia de insercion internacional que Uruguay ha tenido que enfrentar y sus consecuencias. Para ello resulta fundamental identificar los roles y posturas de los principales decisores gubernamentales (eje Presidente, Ministro de Relaciones Exteriores, Servicio Exterior), asi como las diferentes posturas al interior de la sociedad uruguaya en dicho periodo. En este sentido fue fundamental realizar un analisis critico de la agenda vinculada a las negociaciones comerciales con Estados Unidos durante el primer gobierno de Tabare Vazquez (20052010). Para ello, me he basado en el analisis de fuentes primarias, es decir, documentos emitidos por organos oficiales del Estado uruguayo asi como de organismos regionales, principalmente el MERCOSUR, y en fuentes de prensa del mismo periodo. Para tal efecto se empleo el abordaje constructivista de las Relaciones Internacionales, con el objetivo de identificar que identidades estuvieron en debate y cual prevalecio. Las conclusiones senalan que Uruguay se debatio entre dos identidades estatales, la de miembro del MERCOSUR, distante de Estados Unidos, y la de Estado no tan comprometido con el bloque regional y proximo a Estados Unidos, prevaleciendo la primera, aunque sin consolidarse plenamente, pues sobreviven condiciones tales que pueden reiniciar la discusion de identidad del pais en el futuro. EnglishSince the process of redemocratization, Uruguay has had to face several changes in the international system, and more immedi-ately in the regional economic and political context, which has led to substantial changes in the country’s foreign policy. Based on the study of the main changes in foreign policy since the open-ing of democracy (1985), with special attention to the principles on which foreign policy has been structured since the beginning of the 21st century, more specifically since the Frente Amplio (FA) took office as government in 2005, this paper analyses the dilem-mas that Uruguay has had to face in terms of international inser-tion and their consequences. To this end, it is essential to identify the roles and positions of the main government decision-makers (President, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Service) as well as the different positions within Uruguayan society during that period. In this regard, it was essential to carry out a critical analy-sis of the agenda linked to the trade negotiations with the United States during the first government of Tabare Vazquez (2005–2010). In order to do so, I based my analysis on primary sources, that is, documents issued by official bodies of the Uruguayan State as well as regional bodies, mainly MERCOSUR, and on journalistic sources from the same period. The constructivist approach of International Relations was used to identify which identities were under debate and which prevailed. The conclusions indicate that Uruguay was debated between two state identities, that of a member of MERCOSUR, distant from the United States, and that of a state not so committed to the regional bloc and close to the United States, with the former prevailing, although without fully consolidating itself, since conditions survive such that the dis-cussion of the country’s identity could be restarted in the future.