La Triple Frontera como polo de atracción de actividades ilícitas: Condiciones endógenas institucionales e ilegalidad

Abstract

The article's aim is to identify the specific characteristics that make the Tri-Border area-between Paraguay, Brazil and Argentina-a peculiar cross-border space in the South American context, constituted as a "pole of attraction for unlawful activities", a convergence point of different local and transnational actors (individuals and organizations) who carry out such undertakings and-as a consequence-a continental epicenter of the so-called "new threats to security". Three factors are pointed out that determine the specificity of this tri-border area: a physical and services infrastructure which is notably more developed than that of "similar" border areas in the region; a geographic location that makes possible the fluent exchange and close connection with the continent's most important markets; and-the factor that is considered determinant for the understanding of the problem-an especially favourable context of institutional and State weakness (characterised by high levels of corruption, especially in the case of Paraguay) that allows unlawful activities to be fruitful.