Las plantas de celulosa sobre el río Uruguay y el rol de los actores subnacionales gubernamentales en la proyección de la Política Exterior del lado argentino. Acciones, tensiones políticas y negociaciones diplomáticas, 2003-2007

The article focus on the significant diplomatic friction between Argentina and Uruguay related to the future installation of two cellulose plants in the city of Fray Bentos (Uruguay), on the banks of the river shared with Argentina. In doing so, it remarks as key points of contention some sensitive problems dealing with natural resources, transboundary environmental impacts, health and safety issues, the desire for sustainable development as well as concerns about the techniques used in the pulp industry. It pays attention to the weaknesses of existing bilateral institutions –like CARU– in the effort to reach a consensus among the different parties involved. At the same time, the increasing role of sub-national entities in Foreign Policy and the lack of actions of “Presidential Diplomacy” are deeply analysed. Furthermore, it also suggests that the combination of local problems and broader international relationships can create significant problems for foreign policy managers, especially when the population demands human rights being respected, sustainable environmental conditions and the right of provinces as the owners of the existing resources in their territories are taken into account as codify by the National Constitution reforms of 1994. The article also underlines that this case is probably the first one but not the last. New situations would arrive to test the existing institutions and processes within the domain of Foreign Policy, as a consequence of the increasing role developed by subnational entities and governments.