Maintaining dominance: explaining the rise of late-entering insurgent groups in El Salvador and Guatemala

Abstract

Although there exists substantial political science research on insurgent group fragmentation, this process remains ignored in the decades long civil wars of El Salvador and Guatemala. A comparative analysis of insurgencies in El Salvador (1979–1983) and Guatemala (1962–1969 and 1979–1983) investigates whether late insurgent groups arise from opportunities created by early groups’ ability to: (a) present attractive ideologies; (b) establish cohesive organizations with popular, effective leaders; (c) and acquire resources. My findings suggest, late insurgent groups arise because early groups cannot create cohesive organizations with effective leadership. The effects of ideology and resources—important in research on insurgencies—are inconclusive.