中美洲地區正在經歷一個整合過程，即在設計和性能方面，是歐盟之後的世界第二個複雜的一體化集團。中美洲一體化的故事可以追溯到1951年，當時地峽通過與區域一體化的聯合實現了實現發展的真正的第一步。現在，近七十年後，中美洲的一體化進程取得了重大進展，並且隨著時間的推移，它正在適應新的挑戰。
這項研究將分析中美洲一體化的故事以及該地區選擇遵循融合道路的模式。它還將研究中美洲一體化進程的製度演變，並確定其不同階段，利弊，共同市場，關稅聯盟，重大進展和挑戰。
從這項研究中獲得的分析將使讀者深入理解中美洲通過制度框架的區域一體化模式正在做什麼，可以改進哪些以及需要克服哪些挑戰才能取得重大成果。它的政治和經濟發展進程。

The region of Central America has been undergoing a process of integration that is, in terms of design and performance, the world’s second complex integration bloc after the European Union. The story of Central American integration dates from 1951, when the isthmus made the real first step toward reaching development through uniting with the creation a regional integration. Now, nearly seven decades after, the integration process in Central America has attained significant advances and it has evolved as it is adapting to newer challenges appearing through time.
 
This research will analyze the story of Central American integration and the model the region has chosen to follow the path toward integration. It will also study the institutional evolution of the Central American integration process and identify its different phases, pros and cons, common markets, customs union, significant advances and challenges. 

The analysis obtained from this study shall take the reader to a deep comprehension of what Central America through a model of regional integration through an institutional framework is doing right, what can be improved and what challenges are to be overcome in order to attain significant results in its process of political and economic development.

Table of Contents
Acknowledgements	i
Abstract	iii
List of Figures and Graphs	vii
List of Tables	vii
List of Acronyms and Abbreviations	viii
Chapter I	1
Introduction	1
Section I: Background	2
Section II: Research Motives and Objectives	5
Section III: Methodology	6
Section IV: Literature Review	7
Section V: Expected Contributions	7
Chapter II	9
Central America’s Integration Attempts and The Rise of SICA	9
Section I: The Creation of the Organization of Central American States	9
Section II: The Central American Common Market	12
Section III: The Rise of SICA	24
Section IV: Conclusion	32
Chapter III	33
Challenges for the Integration of Central America	33
Section I: SICA’s Five New Pillars	33
Section II: Institutional Improvements and Setbacks in the Integration Process	36
Section III: Challenges for SICA System and Regional Foreign Policy	52
Section IV: Conclusion	59
Chapter IV	61
Progresses and Advances in Central America Integration	61
Section I: Main Advances in Central America	61
Section II: The European Union’s Role in the Integration of Central America	64
Section III: The Partnership Agreement between EU and Central America	70
Section IV: The Forming of Customs Union	76
Section V: Conclusion	78
Chapter V	80
Central America’s Expectations for the Future	80
Section I: Cooperation between the United States and Central America	80
Section II: The United States’ Cut off Aid to Central America	82
Section III: The Impact of Aid Cut in Central America	86
Section IV: Conclusion	87
Chapter VI	88
Conclusion	88
Bibliography	91


List of Figures and Graphs 

•	Graph 2.1 ………………………………………………….………………………… 14
•	Figure 2.1 ………………………………………….………………………………… 30
•	Figure 3.1 ……………………………………………………………………………..35
•	Figure 3.2 ……………………….…………………………………………………… 53
•	Figure 3.3 ………………….………………………………………………………… 54
•	Figure 3.4 …….……………………………………………………………………… 55

List of Tables

•	Table 1.1 .………..…………………………………...………………………………  3
•	Table 2.1 .…………………..………………………………………………………… 16
•	Table 2.2 .………..…………………………………………………………………… 17
•	Table 2.3 .…..………………………………………………………………………… 26
•	Table 3.1 .……..……………………………………………………………………… 58
•	Table 4.1 .…..………………………………………………………………………… 73
•	Table 4.2 .………..…………………………………………………………………… 74
•	Table 5.1 .…..………………………………………………………………………… 85

Bibliography

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•	SICA. General Treaty of Central American Economic Integration. 1960.

•	SICA. Agreement on the Central American Customs and Tariff Regime. 1984

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