I have coined the concept of inter-presidentialism to account for the development of regional integration in the absence of regional institutions. The argument is that, in some regional organizations, domestic institutions have backed presidential diplomacy as main mechanism of region-building.

As regards Mercosur, I have documented a growing gap between rhetoric and achievement. I argue that one reason underlying this phenomenon is a misunderstanding of the European experience with integration. I also contend that, partly as a consequence of Mercosur's diminishing returns, Brazil's foreign policy has silently redefined its priority goals away from the region and towards the global stage.

I have studied subnational, national and supranational legislatures in diverse contexts. My findings show that there is little diversity both regarding bicameralism across Argentine provinces and party behavior within the Buenos Aires legislature. In other respect, I argue that labeling Latin American supranational assemblies as 'parliaments' incurs in gross conceptual stretching.