Youth gangs in Central America : a comparative analysis of las maras in Honduras and Nicaragua

Abstract

For the last two decades, Central America has hosted a particular form of gang organization called Maras. This research compared four factors to analyze the extent in which Honduras and Nicaragua are different in their hosting of the Mara phenomenon: Migration and deportation trends; the state of the drug and arms trafficking; government approaches to youth gangs; and the role of obligatory military service. The data suggests that two of these factors, migration and deportation patterns, as well as government approaches to youth gangs, play central roles in determining the difference between Honduras' problem with Maras and Nicaragua's lack of it. Furthermore, the other two factors serve to aggravate an already precarious situation. Conclusively, this research suggests that countries need to implement indigenous prevention policies and strategies that commence at a domestic level, rather than relying on repressive methods suggested by foreign institutions.