Nuclear and space cooperation.

The argentine-brazilian case: from competition to collaboration

Abstract

The essay analyse the historic evolution of the relationship between most important countries of the UNASUR, Argentina and Brazil, in the nuclear and space fields. Making use of different theories, as the constructivism or the interdependence, we can see how the relation changed from a competence and mutual suspicion, especially in the nuclear development during the military periods, to a growing cooperation in the diplomatic and politic field. Also, we can observe the way in which this change in the dynamic helped the advance in the integration process that made possible the birth of the MERCOSUR during the democratic phase. By this way, the transformation in the relationship between the historical rivals in such sensitive fields as these can be a model in similar situations that affect others countries of the region.