Slum wars of the 21st century: the new geography of conflict in Central America

This paper analyses conflict in Central America, specifically in Nicaragua. The paper argues that there has been a shift in the landscape of conflict in Central America from 'peasant wars' to 'urban wars'. Although past and present forms of brutality initially seem very different, present day urban violence can be seen as a continuation of past struggles in a new spatial context. The dynamics of these contemporary 'slum wars' suggest that this ongoing conflict is becoming more intense into the 21st century, largely as a result of this new spatial context.

The paper analyses the history of violence in Nicaragua and gang violence in Managua, Nicaragua in order to better understand this shift. It concludes that urban contexts tend to give rise to more intense and brutal forms of political conflict between social classes.