THE ALBA ALLIANCE AND THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW LATIN AMERICAN REGIONALISM

Nearly ten years have passed since President Chavez first mentioned the idea of developing a new alternative regional integration policy, away from traditional patterns of international trade, in response to the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA). Since then, the ALBA proposal has been developed from an idea to reality as a counter-hegemonic strategy of regional integration in the context of the post-neoliberal process, constructing a theoretical framework in conjunction with practice. Critics argue that the ALBA is not a real strategy for regional integration; on the contrary, it is seen more as a simple mechanism of cooperation in multiple areas across countries. Opponents insist that it will only last as long as the Chavez government and other progressive governments of the region provide support thereby denying the advance and progress of this new socio-cultural strategy, which is based on solidarity and cooperation rather than economic benefit. In fact, the ALBA has shown that on energy, security, financial, cultural, social and political terms, building a more humane regional exchange in order to meet people's demands and needs is possible. This article aims to discuss both the ALBA as a new type of regionalism and how it can coincide with other sub-regional schemes such as UNASUR.