Taking Exception to States of Exception

From the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ podcast series “35 West.” (23 March 2023)

The Northern Triangle countries of El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras have long struggled with entrenched gang networks and government attempts to crack down on the problem. El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele represents the most extreme case of the latter. Using a state of emergency, Bukele has suspended constitutional protections, jailed over sixty thousand alleged gang members, and consolidated power while targeting civil society and the press.

In this episode, Christopher Hernandez-Roy speaks with Steven Dudley, Co-Director of InSight Crime and author of MS-13: The Making of America’s Most Notorious Gang. They explore how Bukele’s “Plan Bukele” differs from earlier hardline policies, the dangers it poses to Salvadoran democracy and the region, and the consequences for citizens caught between gang violence and state repression. They also discuss what paths might lead to sustainable security in Central America.

Website:  https://www.csis.org/podcasts/35-west/taking-exception-states-exception