摘要：Within the current context of buoyant prices for oil, the re-nationalizations and different projects designed to promote a greater articulation between the countries of the region, the energy question has emerged as a factor of decisive importance for democratic governance. Within the region, there is an evident confrontation between two distinct visions which, in turn, attribute very different roles to the question of energy. There are those, like the Venezuelan government, who view it as a power resource, who conceive energy in a restrictive fashion, as a simple instrument for increasing regional influence, as crucial in the competition between the countries of the region. On the other hand, there are those who see it as a socio-political resource which could contribute to a wider integration process, which could lead to the creation of conditions favorable to security and human development, beyond mere economic considerations and beyond the limitations imposed by national frontiers.
