Our Debunking Myths: President Bukele and El Salvador website is designed to be an accessible learning hub for middle school and high school students who want to understand contemporary El Salvador. It focuses on President Bukele and his government, the rapid expansion of the country’s carceral system, documented human rights concerns, and other key actors and developments that help explain the nation’s current political and social landscape.
Using a Debunking Myth Model, we show students that multiple viewpoints exist surrounding Bukele and his policies. By examining relevant contexts and drawing on scholarly and reputable sources, we demonstrate how even widely accepted beliefs can be questioned and refined to reflect a more accurate reality. We also encourage students to continue investigating on their own.
We hope that the Debunking Myth Model will support students as they grow in their academic journeys. Through this approach, students learn to examine the context of a topic, identify the main sides or beliefs, and investigate evidence to build a working “reality.”
As you may have noticed, our website is organized into various tabs at the top of the page. You can leave the tab you are on at any time by clicking on another one. You are welcome to explore in any order, but we recommend beginning with Historical Context (a brief section) and then moving to the Universal Myth before continuing on.
The Universal Myth is what we consider our "main" or "central" myth. It is a survey myth, which means it introduces many important topics without going too deeply into each one. For this reason, it does not follow the standard Debunking Myth Model, but it presents an overview of Bukele’s government, his policies, and related issues in a way that prepares you for the content of the remaining myths.
If you make it through the Universal Myth, even without reading the others, you should gain a general understanding of President Bukele, his government and policies, and what is happening in El Salvador during his ongoing War on Crime.
If you want a quick preview of the other myths, you can read below.
In Myth 1, students should understand that while Bukele's security measures are often portrayed as benefiting everyone by reducing visible crime and violence, the reality is more complicated. This myth highlights how public narratives can hide inequalities and the hidden costs of policies that seem universally beneficial.
In Myth 2, students should understand that even though polls and statistics often highlight Bukele’s high levels of support, opposition does exist. Every day, people on social media, community organizations, and journalists all voice concerns about his government. It is also important to recognize that opposing Bukele does not make someone bad. It simply reflects a different perspective on what is best for the country.
In Myth 3, students should understand that even though people in many countries call for their leaders to copy the Bukele Model, El Salvador is truly unique. The conditions that allowed Bukele’s strategy to take hold do not and will not (in most cases) exist elsewhere, which means attempts to replicate it will likely fail.
In Myth 4, students should understand that the Bukele administration actively shapes public perception by controlling media narratives and discrediting independent oppositional journalism, suggesting these outlets are deceptive, harmful, and even dangerous to the country. It's important to learn how media can function as a tool of power and why it is important to evaluate multiple sources and question popular narratives.
Nicole is a junior at Yale College. She is majoring in ERM and WGSS.
Yocilin is a junior at Yale College. She is majoring in Ethics, Politics, and Economics.
Nicole and Yocilin met in their class, Central Americans in the U.S.
When they began brainstorming topics for their capstone project, they were both drawn to contemporary El Salvador. After considering the needs of Teaching Central America, they decided to create an informational website aimed primarily at Middle School and High School students, while still being accessible to a general audience.
They ultimately chose a Debunking Myth Model to guide their project, inspired by how much they enjoyed watching and learning from YouTube videos that used a similar approach when they were younger.