El Salvador and Guatemala are two countries in Latin America that are the focus of my study. Both nations share many similarities, including their geographic location, high rates of poverty and underdevelopment, indigenous heritage, and more. Additionally, they have both experienced US interference in their politics, a common occurrence in Latin America. Although the United States does not play a significant role in this research, it is crucial to mention its influence on the political landscapes of both nations. Considering all of this, there are two questions that I hope my research can address: Despite their shared history, how did these two nations undergo such rapid political transformations? What role does their past play in their current situation? Both nations have gained more attention in recent days due to the ongoing changes in their political environments. Nevertheless, I aim to build on historical context in constructing my argument, demonstrating how we can observe these aspects in the present and how they may help us predict the future of El Salvador and Guatemala. An aspect of the present that this thesis will explore is the current leadership in the two nations today: Nayib Bukele and Bernando Arévalo. Bukele has served as President of El Salvador since 2019, while Arévalo recently assumed the presidency of Guatemala in 2024. Both leaders seek to create change in their nations and are regarded as rising populist figures. With that said, how are these two leaders similar? What tactics did they use to capture the public's attention? What does the future hold for both nations?
Primary Speaker
Faculty Department/Program
Faculty Division
Presentation Type
Do You Approve this Abstract?
Approved