Domestic actors and regional integration: Argentine perceptions of the 2030 Agenda in Mercosur

Abstract

This article analyzes the incorporation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to the environmental dimension within Mercosur. The central premise is that the degree of institutionalization and the legitimacy of regional bodies directly influence the effectiveness of environmental governance. The research adopted a qualitative-interpretive approach, combining documentary analysis with ten semi-structured interviews conducted in Buenos Aires with actors from the diplomatic, parliamentary, productive, and academic sectors. The results reveal that the incorporation of the SDGs into the bloc’s decision-making processes is predominantly generic and poorly articulated with coordinated actions, thereby constituting a discursive practice that translates social demands into primarily state-led agendas. The findings indicate that, while SDG 15 (Life on Land) has greater technical centrality, issues related to Climate Action (SDG 13) are characterized by fluctuating commitments. Productive sectors, including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), report “participatory fatigue” (REED, 2008) and a sense of exclusion from decision-making centers, in addition to identifying the environmental requirements associated with the Mercosur–European Union Agreement as potential non-tariff barriers. The study concludes that, although the resumption of Brazilian leadership is regarded as decisive for the governance of the bloc, China’s growing influence and domestic political instability in Argentina pose structural challenges to the consolidation of a regional sustainable development agenda.