Abstract

AREVALO MEJIA, Karen. Regarding the bicentenary: A review of Central America as a space-route from critical geopolitics. Relac. Int. [online]. 2021, vol.94, n.2, pp.97-118. ISSN 2215-4582.  http://dx.doi.org/10.15359/ri.94-2.5.

The independence processes in Central America have been influenced by the area’s geographical position and its geopolitical relevance in the continent. The region has been seen by the global powers as a space-route, especially from the eighties to the present. This geopolitical condition has predisposed the formation of the Central American countries by fragmenting their development process and weakening their whole potential; as a result, the territory is even more vulnerable to external interests. Therefore, analyzing Central America from the Critical Geopolitics perspective will contribute to understand it as a place defined by politics of space in which global powers interfere undermining possibilities for regional integration among other effects.

The geographical location of this region has been used as a trade-route for international transportation, being this one of the reasons for the dispute regarding the Panama Canal’s control by global powers; besides its strategic location allows other kinds of flows as it is the case of migrants and drugs, for example. Since the area has been built due to external influences, a deconstructive approach is needed to better understand its current reality, thinking about possibilities of positive changes, and taking advantage of its own strengths to benefit its population.

Keywords : Bicentenary; Central America; Critical Geopolitics; deconstruction; global powers; international route.

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