83:
strengths of the economy in
Central America did not outweigh the faults of exclusionary politics, flawed economic structures, decline of intra-regional trade, and external economic setbacks that consequently led to social unrest, violence and civil war. While Zuvekas (2001: 128-120) maintains that the report "does not sufficiently recognize the (admittedly limited) progress" made throughout the 1980s, the commentator on the commission does believe the "ICCARD is fundamentally sound." From the historical detail on the civil strife that uprooted and caused suffering in the region for over ten years, the international commission then provided an immediate plan for action in order to attend to the social impact of the crisis.
411:
231:
of the recent history of the region. Commentators such as
Zuvekas (2001: 125) maintains some of the report (actually, assembled from essays by key Central American scholars) is disappointing, and Envivo (1989) notes issues such as land reform remained untouched. Nonetheless, the report is a reasonable analysis of the difficulties facing the region with authoritative perspectives for the direction domestic governments, international organizations and the overall Central American
222:, the report addresses the conditions for any support to promote trade, advance technology in the region and open markets for Central American exports to revive the intra-regional economy. Markets must provide for the modernization of regional technology and financial flows need be devoted to domestic reforms, debt reduction and restructuring. Finally, the report advises for a coordinated diversification of foreign assistance based on performance conditions.
128:
65:
The commission's recommendations represented the deliberations of an international body for regional democracy and development. With brief historical insights, from lessons learned the report's plan of action for a turning point in
Central America is an easy to read guide for sustainable development
230:
Anticipating a future turning point toward sustainable development and authentic democratic institutions in
Central America, the commission concludes with statement that the recommendations documented are drawn from principles of democratic development by understanding problems of the past in light
148:
reform. At this point, the report as it was presented addressed the developmental needs of the region rather than on a country-by-country basis, allowing for the "development of more comprehensive policies" (Envivo 1989). The plan to promote democracy thus involves strategy for civilian rule and
82:
is critical to understanding the historical roots of the crisis that
Central America faced during the 1970s and 1980s, after the region's economy nearly collapsed from the inability to adjust to international structural changes. While the region averaged unprecedented growth from 1950 to 1978, the
107:
reform as well as strategy to conserve natural resources. In sequencing the plan, fiscal reform is noted as a fundamental step to finance the recovery of human resource development from positive, real returns of hard-earned profit. With recognition of the difficulties in sustaining democratic
184:. The vision of regional economic planning accordingly "rests on an assumption that political dialogue is the means to resolve both internal and regional conflicts" (Envio 1989). Historical factions related to integration are detailed, including the central challenges to rebuilding the
62:, "the principal catalyst of the commission's work") the plan called for immediate action, regional and international cooperation based on learning from history (Zuvekas 2001: 128). With numerous proposals for Central America over the years, the commission built upon past experiences.
17:
214:. The strengthening of these institutions is essential to achieving economic cooperation – or "acting together internationally" in the words of the report – which requires an institutional coherence that the commission suggests the
135:
The international commission report stresses that the fragile institutions representing the interests of those excluded from political processes, the minimal financial resources for mobilizing to provide for the poorest in society, and the
267:
framework for regional development, peace and cooperation. The report claims that the "Stanford
Commission Report, the presidential summit and the EEC meeting have opened a new space in Central American politics" (Envio 1989). While the
149:
civil-military relations where: "security is not achieved by repression and military dominance of government. Continued withdrawal of the military from the political scene, their training in democratic political values, the rejection of
70:. The report itself, released "on the eve of the fourth meeting of the Central American Presidents", (Envio 1989) is also a valuable reference for analysis of the region and developments since the time of the commission.
258:
searches, even further scholarly research reveal little. Nonetheless, Envio (1989) reports that following the presentation of the report on the eve of the fourth meeting of
Central American presidents, the
157:, and the development of effective mechanisms of civilian political control," is critical Central American societies (ICCARD 1989: 61). The commission's plan advises from the need for economic and
439:
444:
112:
in the region, the report then discusses building democracy as inseparable from development. The plan for building democracy consists of broadening participation in
203:. The commission suggests that while there are favorable conditions for regional investment and cooperation, the intra-regional debt also remains a major obstacle.
235:
need undertake to ensure recovery in the region. The Report of the
International Commission for Central American Recovery and Development is a valuable guide for
459:
207:
291:
The Report of the
International Commission for Central American Recovery and Development: Poverty, Conflict, and Hope – A Turning Point in Central America
454:
197:
449:
218:
is, "with it long experience in developing regional structures, in an excellent position to provide expertise" (ICCARD 1989: 76). To maintain
211:
357:
304:
177:
173:
40:(ICCARD) was a task force composed of 33 scholars and leaders (Ford Foundation 1988: 155). The commission published its report,
200:
162:
260:
219:
193:
169:
269:
424:
206:
If integration is to be sustainable and successful, regional institutions must be strengthened, particularly the
48:
168:
For sustainable democracy, the report maintains regional institutions and cooperation are essential, noting The
95:, including the revival of productivity and production, assuring the creation of employment, the development of
464:
92:
263:(EEC) responded positively with satisfaction for the peace process undertaken. The summit resulted in the
416:
181:
56:
310:
Zuvekas, C. 2001. "Alternative
Perspectives on Central American Economic Recovery and Development."
215:
45:
272:
isolates the United States, the EEC continued with its support in Central America by increasing
232:
154:
141:
127:
79:
185:
96:
52:
25:
16:
158:
29:
433:
264:
150:
145:
113:
100:
59:
33:
365:
International Organizations: Perspectives on Governance in the Twenty-First Century
117:
391:
352:
Mansfield, E.D. 2002. "Democratic Transitions, Institutional Strength, and War.
296:
Envio Team. 1989, April. "EEC Applauds Central American Initiative." Number 95,
273:
137:
406:
236:
189:
121:
109:
338:
Keohane, R.O. 1970. "Central American Integration: The Paradox of Success."
372:
Transnational Conflicts: Central America, Social Change, and Globalization.
67:
280:' contra troops in February 1989, showing progress for regional diplomacy.
277:
255:
104:
91:
The immediate plan to aid those in poverty is followed by a strategy for
38:
International Commission for Central American Recovery and Development
240:
44:
in 1989 with principles for promoting peace, genuine democracy and
126:
15:
42:
Poverty, Conflict, and Hope: A Turning Point in Central America,
243:
based upon history with hope for the future of the region.
78:
The report noted that the economic expansion following the
384:
Whitman, J. 2005. "Human Systems and Global Governance."
55:. Also known as the Sanford Commission Report (after
356:, Vol. 56, No. 2, pp. 297–337, (also available
293:. (1989). Durham and London: Duke University Press.
212:
Secretariat of the Central American Monetary Council
161:with a strong role in developing democracy through
440:International organizations based in the Americas
208:Central American Bank for Economic Integration
8:
174:Central American Economic and Social Council
124:to instill values of democracy and peace.
381:. United States: Oxford University Press.
379:Politics of Latin America: The Power Game
398:, Vol. 27, No. 1 (1992), pp. 125–150
377:Vaden, H.E. & Prevost, G, Eds. 2005.
326:The Blackwell Companion to Organizations.
198:U.S. Agency for International Development
445:International development organizations
386:Systems Research and Behavioral Science
276:with the dismantling and resettling of
460:Organizations based in North Carolina
367:. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall.
349:New York: Columbia University Press.
305:"Ford Foundation Annual Report 1988."
7:
328:Cambridge, MA: Blackwell Publishers.
14:
455:Organizations established in 1987
178:Central American Court of Justice
409:
450:Political science organizations
396:Latin American Research Review
392:Latin American Research Review
335:New York: St. Martin's Press.
333:Globalization and its critics.
312:Latin American Research Review
201:structural adjustment programs
188:under the "conditionality" of
165:and the support of the media.
1:
163:nongovernmental organizations
388:, No. 33, pp. 311–317.
347:Neorealism and its critics.
340:International Organization,
261:European Economic Community
194:International Monetary Fund
170:Central American Parliament
481:
354:International Organization
270:Esquipulas Peace Agreement
180:are vital to facilitating
425:International development
331:Germain, R.D., Ed. 2000.
220:international cooperation
116:, advocating respect for
342:Vol. 24, No. 2, 319-334.
307:Retrieved February 2007
303:Ford Foundation. 1988.
93:sustainable development
20:Central American Report
132:
131:Map of Central America
21:
370:Robinson, W.I. 2003.
130:
19:
417:Latin America portal
345:Keohane, R.O. 1986.
324:Baum, J., Ed. 2005.
182:regional integration
74:Brief on the history
239:and application of
247:Developments since
216:European Community
140:of those who hold
133:
22:
394:. In particular,
233:political economy
176:, as well as The
155:national security
144:are obstacles to
472:
419:
414:
413:
412:
363:Pease, K. 2006.
80:Second World War
480:
479:
475:
474:
473:
471:
470:
469:
465:Duke University
430:
429:
415:
410:
408:
405:
321:
319:Further reading
287:
249:
228:
186:Free Trade Zone
97:human resources
89:
76:
53:Central America
36:) in 1987, the
26:Duke University
24:Established at
12:
11:
5:
478:
476:
468:
467:
462:
457:
452:
447:
442:
432:
431:
428:
427:
421:
420:
404:
401:
400:
399:
389:
382:
375:
374:London: Verso.
368:
361:
350:
343:
336:
329:
320:
317:
316:
315:
308:
301:
294:
286:
283:
282:
281:
253:Esquipulas II:
248:
245:
227:
224:
159:social justice
88:
85:
75:
72:
30:North Carolina
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
477:
466:
463:
461:
458:
456:
453:
451:
448:
446:
443:
441:
438:
437:
435:
426:
423:
422:
418:
407:
402:
397:
393:
390:
387:
383:
380:
376:
373:
369:
366:
362:
359:
355:
351:
348:
344:
341:
337:
334:
330:
327:
323:
322:
318:
313:
309:
306:
302:
299:
295:
292:
289:
288:
284:
279:
275:
271:
266:
265:Esquipulas II
262:
257:
254:
251:
250:
246:
244:
242:
238:
234:
225:
223:
221:
217:
213:
209:
204:
202:
199:
195:
191:
187:
183:
179:
175:
171:
166:
164:
160:
156:
153:doctrines of
152:
151:authoritarian
147:
143:
139:
129:
125:
123:
119:
115:
114:civil society
111:
106:
102:
98:
94:
86:
84:
81:
73:
71:
69:
63:
61:
60:Terry Sanford
58:
54:
50:
47:
43:
39:
35:
34:United States
31:
27:
18:
395:
385:
378:
371:
364:
353:
346:
339:
332:
325:
311:
297:
290:
252:
229:
205:
167:
134:
118:human rights
90:
77:
64:
57:U.S. Senator
41:
37:
23:
274:foreign aid
146:progressive
138:perceptions
49:development
434:Categories
285:References
237:case study
226:Conclusion
196:, and the
190:World Bank
110:governance
122:tolerance
68:democracy
46:equitable
403:See also
278:Honduras
256:Internet
210:and the
105:monetary
87:The plan
358:online
241:theory
192:, the
172:, The
101:fiscal
298:Envio
142:power
120:with
103:and
66:and
51:in
436::
360:).
99:,
32:,
314:.
300:.
28:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
