Zabolotna M. The socio-political dimension of regional integration in Latin America

The thesis is focused on the features of institutional regional integration in Latin America. The author has analyzed the scientific achievements of the Ukrainian and foreign researchers for studying the process of regional integration. The author analyzes the socio-political aspects of Latin American integration. Integration is a complex and multifaceted process. Almost all regions of the world are involved in this process, but at the same time it develops unevenly. The author has defined the features of modern processes of regional integration in Latin America and has studied the impact of the USA. The internal regional direction of Latin American integration and the leading integration associations of the region are also characterized. The thesis presents the study of the regional integration course in the programs of the leading political parties of Latin America. In this context, the concept of the "left turn" is analyzed in detail. In particular, the participation of public organizations is very importance in the development of regional integration processes. The thesis also determines the importance of the influence of civil society on the Latin American integration. The author demonstrates that the civil society in Latin America has much in common with the Ukrainian one. Therefore the experience of Latin America civil society can be useful for Ukraine. In the future, it can promote more active participation of civil society in the political process, including the formation of the integration course of the country.