The Transnational Expansion of Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13): An Assessment of the Gang's Transnational Patterns, Purposes, and Prospects in Spain.

Abstract

["The study investigates the nature and extent of the consolidation of Mara Salvatrucha gang (MS13) in Spain. With the aim of answering the research question, what are the nature and implications of the transnational spread of Mara Salvatrucha in Spain? the dissertation intends to shed light on the local peculiarities of MS-13 in Spain and assess its transnational connections with the "original" Mara Salvatrucha who are active in Central America. The research will be conducted through the review of selected secondary sources on the topic, identifying academic gaps and misconceptions about the gang's transnational expansions. By comparing the structure, purposes, and level of sophistication of Mara Salvatrucha in Central America and Spain, the study will establish evidence of the divergence between the different manifestations of the phenomenon. MS-13 in Spain exhibits substantial differences in its aims, leverage, and prospects compared to its counterparts in other settings. It can be argued that aside from shared symbology, branding, and cultural background, the Spanish MS-13 variant is configured as a distinct and separate reality from the Central American gang, shaped by the confluence of structural and psychological factors experienced by diaspora communities in the country. MS-13 in Spain is limited in its composition and organizational capabilities. It has no political aspirations and plays a minor role in the Spanish and European criminal scenario. These results clash with the narratives of threat surrounding Mara Salvatrucha. Nonetheless, understanding the actual dimensions and peculiarities of the Spanish chapter of MS-13 is crucial to re-demystify the gang’s perception and design context-appropriate policies that target crime prevention and promote effective integration of immigrants. While it cannot be taken for granted that the Mara Salvatrucha will not undergo a process of evolution also in Spain, it is implausible that it will follow a development similar to its path in Central America, given the significant differences in the socioeconomic and institutional context"]