The concept of Patria Grande dates to the wars of independence in Latin America. It was proclaimed by the great liberators San Martin and Bolívar and the related factions in the different points of the viceroyalties. Furthermore, the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata included what are now the countries of Argentina, Bolivia, Paraguay, Uruguay, and the southern part of Perú and Brasil (Chile although not part of this viceroyalty also sent delegates). When the Viceroyalty of the Río de la Plata declared its independence from the Spanish crown, it did so in the name of and with delegates from all these regions. The final document was written and signed in both Spanish and Quechua because the original peoples were fully represented.
What happened then that La Patria Grande dismembered in different countries? From the beginning there were two opposing and very strongly defended positions in the territories. There were the Criollos who defended the plurality of the peoples working together for common interests, the small merchants were divided in their alliances, and on the other side of the spectrum were the landowners who responded to their own interests tied to the interests of
England (large grain and meat
producers who sold in Europe).
The latter prevailed and the disintegration of the Patria Grande was the result. This division has been repeated to this day.
The popular and progressive governments of Latin America seek the integration of the region, while the neoliberal governments resist it. The latter continue to prevail and have been the ones that facilitated, by act or omission, the various military coups of the last century and the rivalry between countries.
The first decade of this century saw a resurgence in action of the Patria Grande concept with UNASUR, only to be derailed in the second decade by a flurry of neoliberal governments. In this third decade, Latin America is once again governed by progressive governments from Mexico in the north to Argentina in the south. Organizations such as Mercosur, CELAC, and the recent XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government, once again seek regional integration.
The question we ask ourselves is the following: in today's world, is the concept of Patria Grande still valid, or should we open ourselves to new formulas that do not generate division and are not entrenched in mutual rancor? And how would this be?