The methodology and stilted style of this book appear to stem from the fact that it is actually a doctoral dissertation. This statement is not meant to detract from the solid scholarship evidenced throughout the study, which was certainly worth publishing, but it is too bad that the dynamic growth of the Central American Common Market is dulled by the grey historicity of the author’s approach. Also the author or the publisher should have supplied an index.
The author has divided his subject into three stages: 1) colonial integration and its collapse; 2) individual countries and their economic development; and 3) economic integration in contrast to political integration. This is a most satisfactory approach particularly to anyone unacquainted with Central America, for it gives a panoramic view of the continuing efforts toward some sort of integration which may make the area economically viable. Castillo has thoroughly analyzed the documents and literature involved in the integrating processes of the Central American countries. He has rendered a valuable service to students of that area by providing a foundation for the understanding of current developments in the area.
This reviewer had difficulty in coming to any concrete grasp of the “meat” of Castillo’s book, perhaps because it does not offer any conclusions or recommendations. The final frustration is the absence of any treatment of current programs, e.g. the feasibility of a common currency for the CACM. It is to be hoped that, having ably laid the groundwork in this study, Castillo will further examine and interpret Central American development.
