"LA CUESTIÓN DEL RÍO LAUCA" DESDE LA PERSPECTIVA MULTIESCALAR: ¿UN JUEGO DE SUMA CERO DE LAS DIPLOMACIAS BOLIVIANA Y CHILENA?1

Abstract

The historical context of "the Lauca River problem" is studied, identifying different actors and analysis scales and its consequences in the development of the conflict that finished with the breakdown of diplomatic relations between Bolivia and Chile. It is speculated that international relations of both countries, in their attempt to establish their own positions facing the national and international scenes, where the Mediterranean Bolivian feel was the basic problem, could not foresee the political effects that led to a border dispute of low intensity to an international conflict of high intensity. Some heterodox positions of important Bolivian and Chilean figures are analyzed to solve the dispute. It is also mentioned the impact of this disagreement in the local and regional development of the current Arica-Parinacota region.