State of Emergency
Journal
Current History
ISSN
00113530
Publisher
University of California Press
Date Issued
2026-09-01
Type
Article
Abstract
Nayib Bukele’s presidency has transformed El Salvador into an electoral autocracy by systematically dismantling democratic institutions, subverting the constitution, and consolidating power under his New Ideas party. In response, grassroots collectives of victims’ families engage in quiet, poignant acts of defiance, preserving memory and demanding accountability within a highly restrictive civic space. © 2026 by The Regents of the University of California