Gangs in Central America: The Differences Between Nicaragua and the Northern Triangle

• In Event: The Influence of Gangs Across Diverse Social Contexts

Abstract

The focus on gangs in Central America has mostly been on the maras in the Northern Triangle (El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras). Notwithstanding Nicaragua is not suffering from the same amount of gang violence as its northern neighbors – and even though the national discourse of Nicaragua is one of denying the presence of gangs (pandillas) in the country – in several marginal barrios in Managua, and other cities in Nicaragua, there is a presence of youth gangs. But why are these maras and pandillas so different? Or are they maybe not so different at all? In this presentation I’ll discuss the differences and similarities between gangs in Nicaragua and the Northern Triangle, with a special focus on the role of women and girls in and around gangs. The latter forms another aspect that is often neglected or only marginally paid attention to in the study on gangs in Central America.

Author

• Ellen Van Damme, KU Leuven