Organization of Central American States (ODECA)

Organization of Central American States (ODECA), a loose affiliation of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua established in 1951. The body's long-term objective was to bring about the long-cherished, but elusive, goal of Central American unification, a condition that prevailed for a time after the region attained independence from Spain. Short-term objectives, intended to promote unification, were peaceful settlement of intra-Central American disputes; joint solution of common problems; and promotion of the region's economic, social, and cultural development.

The agreement establishing the organization, headquartered in San Salvador, set an elaborate institutional structure: Meeting of Heads of State, Conference of Foreign Ministers, Executive Council, Legislative Council, Court of Justice, Economic Council, Cultural and Educational Council, Defense Council, and Secretariat.

Despite the ideal of Central American union, the organization never proved effective in meeting its objectives. Most notably, it had little or no success in dealing with the many disputes between member countries. Additionally, from the outset, it was marked by political bickering. Operation of ODECA halted with the turmoil and violence of the late 1970s and 1980s. In 1993, with more stability in the region, Central American nations formed the Central American Integration System (SICA) to promote peace and democracy in the region. In 2005 the Central American countries signed a free trade agreement with the United States.

See alsoCentral America .

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ralph Lee Woodward, Jr., Central America: A Nation Divided, 2d ed. (1985).

G. Pope Atkins, Latin America in the International Political System, 2d ed. (1989).

Additional Bibliography

Antillón Salazar, Alvar. La ODECA y el Parlamento Centroamericano. San José, Costa Rica: Editorial Juricentro, 1996.

                                  James D. Cochrane