Central America has the reputation of being a violent region with high crime rates, youth

gangs, drug traffic, and ubiquitous insecurity. Politicians, the media, and social scientists

in and outside the region often claim that the societies are in complete agreement with

their judgment of the situation and that all society members are calling for law and order

and social segregation. Focusing on Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua, the paper analyzes

the social perception of violence and crime. On the basis of essays written by secondary

school students and interviews with citizens from all walks of life in the three countries,

the paper points out how elite arguments on violence and crime are translated into

everyday life, and what society members suggest be done to deal with these problems.

The sources prove that there are noticeable hegemonic discourses on violence and crime in

Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua. Simultaneously, a majority of the respondents call

for social and integrative solutions rather than the so-called “iron fist.” The repressive

trend in Central American policies therefore does not necessarily receive the presumed affirmation

asserted by many authorities on and in the region.