El Salvador: Old Habits Die Hard

With the takeover of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the possibilities and limits of international peace operations are being newly discussed. Experiences from Central America and Colombia show that not only the return of the past but also the lack of structural reforms threaten peace. An analysis.

Organiser: German-Colombian Peace Institute Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Speaker)

Workshop on SSR organized by CAPAZ and the University of Antioquia in Medellin

ERGOMAS 16th Biennial Conference 2021, Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Tartu Organisers: European Research Group on Military and Society, Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu Désirée Reder (Speaker)

Panel "Mobilizing Force: Linking Security Threats, Militarization, and Civilian Control in Democracies"

Violent Legacies, Social Movements, Uncertain Futures, Universidad de Costa Rica, San José Désirée Reder (Organiser), Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Organiser), Alina Ripplinger (Panelist)

In Central America, democracy and peacebuilding processes are currently threatened. Researchers and civil society representatives discussed potential pathways out of the crisis in a three-day workshop at the University of Costa Rica in San José, organised by GIGA.

In Guatemala, President Bernardo Arévalo took office on 15 January 2024, raising hopes of democratic reform. Still, an entrenched elite has continuously distorted the independence of the judiciary. Not only are elections highly contested; democracy itself is on the line. Can Guatemala turn the tide?

Organiser: Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom Désirée Reder (Consultant)

“Shrinking spaces”, the increasing restriction of civil society spaces, is shaping societies, especially in autocracies in the global south. The phenomenon is an expression of a global crisis of the democratic model and the simultaneous rise of autocratic models of order.

Local actors should be involved in peacebuilding processes and security sector reforms (SSR). The book presents a feminist and intersectoral conceptualisation of SSR as well as quantitative and qualitative findings from 42 post-conflict societies as well as from Afghanistan and Colombia. Open Access until 11 December 2023!

In Latin America, most violence is considered “criminal.” But a clear-cut distinction between political and criminal violence does not exist. Policies to reduce violence meander between repression and dialogue but lack comprehensiveness, and a focus on prevention, the rule of law, and human rights.

Los juicios masivos que anunció Nayib Bukele en El Salvador tienen antecedentes históricos, pero algunos de ellos representan claras violaciones contra los derechos humanos, según expertos.

The asasination of Ecuadorian presidential candidate Fernando Villavicencio becomes part of Latin America's search for security policies to confront organised crime. Two models are pursued: El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele opts for extreme repression while Colombian President Gustavo Petro favours talks for disarmament.

El Salvador and other countries in the region declare states of emergency to combatviolent crime. However this strategy rarely works.

The new relationship between El Salvador and China. What are the potential risks for the Central American country and which consequences can be expected for the entire region?

President Nayib Bukele has imposed a state of emergency for 30 days as El Salvador grapples with a sudden increase in slayings. Could an alleged soured pact between the government and notorious gangs be the reason? 

El Salvador's president declared the state of emergency a month ago. Over 20,000 young people have been detained after a wave of homiciedes in March. What happened?

Violence in El Salvador is a persistent problem as are repressive approaches by the governments.

Reforms of security sector institutions (SSR) are often crucial elements of international support for peacebuilding and democratisation. Although there is no general definition of SSR, it includes demobilisation processes of ex-combatants, mandate and personnel reforms in the police, armed forces and judicial sector. A comprehensive vision of security governance reforms is important as long as these reforms go beyond ending a civil war and are directed towards reducing various manifestations of violence and towards citizen security.

With the takeover of power by the Taliban in Afghanistan, the possibilities and limits of international peace operations are being newly discussed. Experiences from Central America and Colombia show that not only the return of the past but also the lack of structural reforms threaten peace. An analysis.

Organiser: German-Colombian Peace Institute Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach (Speaker)

Workshop on SSR organized by CAPAZ and the University of Antioquia in Medellin

ERGOMAS 16th Biennial Conference 2021, Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu, Tartu Organisers: European Research Group on Military and Society, Institute of Social Studies, University of Tartu Désirée Reder (Speaker)

Panel "Mobilizing Force: Linking Security Threats, Militarization, and Civilian Control in Democracies"