ZICOSUR, paradiplomacia y recursos naturales: el litio y la vinculación con China

This article analyses the natural assets of the Area of Integration of Central West South America (Spanish acronym, ZICOSUR), specifically lithium, with respect to its regional potential in the process of linking up with China. The authors examine the natural resources of the region, which includes the sub-regions of Gran Chaco and the “lithium triangle”. ZICOSUR is a sub-state integration process that mainly involves peripheral sub-state units seeking regional international insertion in order to expand their development possibilities. In this respect, the work examines the complementarity of interests with the Asian giant, which may lead to cooperative relations. The proposed theoretical framework begins with paradiplomacy studies to understand the actions of sub-state units, and from regional integration studies to understand the phenomenon at the sub-state level in relation to the management of natural resources. The methodological proposal is mainly qualitative, employing a case study and the analysis official documents and bibliographic sources.