The Mirage of Security: Analyzing the Dangerous Bukele Model in Latin America

This analysis critiques the "Bukele model" in El Salvador, arguing that its popularity masks a shift toward extreme authoritarianism at the expense of civil liberties and social justice. Despite high approval ratings, the article contends that President Nayib Bukele’s regime has dismantled the rule of law, institutionalizing a permanent State of Emergency as a tool for social control. Key concerns include the suspension of due process, mass detentions exceeding 90,000 individuals, and an incarceration rate that is the highest globally. The text highlights severe human rights violations, including torture and forced disappearances, alongside regressive judicial reforms allowing the prosecution of minors as adults. Furthermore, the article challenges the narrative of economic success, citing rising poverty rates, school closures, and authoritarian gentrification that prioritizes tourism over basic subsistence. By comparing Bukele’s dominance to other regional leaders like Lula da Silva and Gustavo Petro, the piece suggests this model exploits fear to consolidate one-man hegemony, effectively waging a war on the poor while rendering social precariousness invisible through sophisticated media marketing.