Central America is going through a process of political, economic and cultural transformation that started in 1907 with the creation of the Central American Court of Justice. In 1951 the integration process continued with the signature of the San Salvador Treaty that created the ODECA, the Organization of Central American States. Unfortunately, the ODECA was not completely successful due to internal conflicts between several states of the region.
It was until 1991 that the integration agenda was completed with the creation of the SICA, "Sistema para la Integración Centroamericana" or System for the Central American Integration. The SICA provided a clear legal base to avoid discrepancies between the member states. The SICA membership includes the 7 nations of Central America plus the Dominican Republic, a state that is part of the Caribbean.
Central America already has several supranational institutions such as the Central American Parliament, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration and the Central American Common Market.
Foreign relations
Until recently, all Central American countries have maintained diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (Taiwan) instead of the People's Republic of China. [ [http://www.mofa.gov.tw/webapp/ct.asp?xItem=11624&CtNode=1143&mp=1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Republic of China] ] . President Oscar Arias of Costa Rica, however, established diplomatic relations with the People's Republic of China in 2007, severing formal diplomatic ties with the Republic of China (Taiwan).
Usage
"Central America" may mean different things to different people in the world according to the context:
* In English, Central America is considered a region of the North American continent. [" [http://www.m-w.com/dictionary/Central%20America Central America] ." "Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary".] Geopolitically, it usually comprises seven countries – Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama.[" [http://www.britannica.com/eb/article-9110092/Central-America Central America] ". "Encyclopædia Britannica". 2006. Chicago: Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc.] Mexico, in whole or in part, is occasionally included. [Burchfield, R. W. 2004. "America". "Fowler's Modern English Usage" (ISBN 0-19-861021-1) New York: Oxford University Press, p. 48.] Some geographers include the five states of Campeche, Chiapas, Tabasco, Quintana Roo, and Yucatán,]
* In Latin America, Iberia, and some other parts of Europe, the Americas are considered to be a single continent, and Central America is considered a region of this continent. In Ibero-America, the region is defined as seven nations – Belize, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama – and may occasionally include Mexico's southernmost region. [ [http://mx.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Centroam%C3%A9rica.html Centroamérica (Mexican version)] "/ [http://es.encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Centroam%C3%A9rica.html Centroamérica (Spaniard version)] . "Encarta Online Encyclopedia."] Geopolitically, Mexico is not considered part of the region.
* The UN geoscheme defines the region as all states of North America south of the United States; conversely, the European Union excludes Belize and Mexico from its definition of the region. [ [http://millenniumindicators.un.org/unsd/methods/m49/m49regin.htm Standard Country and Area Codes Classifications (M49)] . United Nations Statistics Division.] [ [http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/ca/index.htm The EU's relations with Central America] , European Commission. Accessed on line October 17, 2007.]
*In Central America, the concept is divided in "Centroamérica" and "América Central". "Centro América" is used as a historical term to define the countries that formed part of the Federal Republic of Central America, while "América Central" is a contemporary concept of Central America as a region, now including Panama and Belize. This means, "Centroamérica" is a political term and "América Central" a geographical term.ee also
* Central American Parliament
* Ethnic groups in Central America
* North America
* South America
* Americas (terminology)
* Middle America
* Rail transport in Central America
References
* " [http://www.bartleby.com/65/ce/CentrAm.html Central America] ". " [http://www.bartleby.com/65/ The Columbia Encyclopedia] ", 6th ed. 2001-6. New York: Columbia University Press.
* " [http://encarta.msn.com/encyclopedia_761574502/Central_America.html Central America] ". "MSN Encarta Online Encyclopedia 2006."
* [http://www.bartleby.com/61/8/C0200800.html American Heritage Dictionaries, Central America] .
* [http://wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=central+america WordNet Princeton University: Central America] .
* "Central America". " [http://www.columbiagazetteer.org/ The Columbia Gazetteer of the World Online] ". 2006. New York: Columbia University Press.
External links
* [http://www.flickr.com/photos/billbevan/sets/72157601786821717/ Photos of Central America]