EPISODE · Feb 8, 2026 · 32 MIN
15. The State of Emergency in El Salvador - Bukele’s Mano Dura
from Amicae Curiae · host Amicae Curiae
Grab your coffee and join us for a journey to Central America - specifically to El Salvador, a small country with an outsized and deeply complex history.In this episode, we dive into colonialism, civil war, U.S. influence, and the rise of one of the world’s most notorious gangs: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). From the surreal “Football War” with Honduras to the long shadows of the Cold War, we trace how violence, migration, and politics became tightly intertwined in Salvadoran society.At the heart of the episode lies the present: the rise of President Nayib Bukele and his radical Mano Dura (“Iron Fist”) crackdown on gang violence. We unpack the state of emergency, mass arrests, mega-prisons like CECOT, and the suspension of fundamental rights – including fair trial guarantees and the detention of children. Why do many Salvadorans feel safer than ever, while international organizations warn of widespread human rights abuses?Legally, we focus on core questions of international human rights law: what is a state allowed to do during a state of emergency? Which rights can never be suspended? And how do Bukele’s policies measure up against El Salvador’s obligations under the ICCPR and the American Convention on Human Rights?This episode tells the story of an apparent success built on a dangerous paradox: security achieved at the expense of freedom. A case that reaches far beyond El Salvador – and forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about power, populism, and the true cost of safety.For any questions or corrections (because yes, we make mistakes), contact us at:[email protected]
What this episode covers
Grab your coffee and join us for a journey to Central America - specifically to El Salvador, a small country with an outsized and deeply complex history.In this episode, we dive into colonialism, civil war, U.S. influence, and the rise of one of the world’s most notorious gangs: Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13). From the surreal “Football War” with Honduras to the long shadows of the Cold War, we trace how violence, migration, and politics became tightly intertwined in Salvadoran society.At the heart of the episode lies the present: the rise of President Nayib Bukele and his radical Mano Dura (“Iron Fist”) crackdown on gang violence. We unpack the state of emergency, mass arrests, mega-prisons like CECOT, and the suspension of fundamental rights – including fair trial guarantees and the detention of children. Why do many Salvadorans feel safer than ever, while international organizations warn of widespread human rights abuses?Legally, we focus on core questions of international human rights law: what is a state allowed to do during a state of emergency? Which rights can never be suspended? And how do Bukele’s policies measure up against El Salvador’s obligations under the ICCPR and the American Convention on Human Rights?This episode tells the story of an apparent success built on a dangerous paradox: security achieved at the expense of freedom. A case that reaches far beyond El Salvador – and forces us to confront uncomfortable questions about power, populism, and the true cost of safety.For any questions or corrections (because yes, we make mistakes), contact us at:[email protected]
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15. The State of Emergency in El Salvador - Bukele’s Mano Dura
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