ABSTRACT
Animosity between El Salvador and Honduras is long-standing and predates the formation of the Common Market. The cycle of wars and treaties has been of considerable duration and intensity, to the point where each successive clash is seen as a forerunner to the next one. Most analysts believe that the migration issue was the fundamental cause of the 1969 war. For over fifty years, El Salvador had been exporting labor to Honduras. A few observers believe that the existence of the Common Market was itself a cause of the war. Since 1963, Honduras has been confronted with two grave internal problems, one political and one agrarian. Since the Soccer War, El Salvador and Honduras have both attempted to make political capital, especially during election years, by exploiting the nationalistic sentiments of the people. The three bilateral Issues--the border, migration, and Common Market problems--certainly increased the chances for and the magnitude of armed hostilities between El Salvador and Honduras.
