Factors of Power and Marginalization

 Factors of Power and Marginalization 

MS-13 rose to power quickly, due to many different factors that influenced their recruitment, their actions, and their connections in the world of violence.

As stated before, many members were part of the Civil War that was tearing El Salvador apart at the moment. Putting their knowledge of Guerrilla Warfare from the fight, into practice by training members of MS-13.This knowledge gave members a significant advantage. This allowed them to not only be trained to protect the gang, and themselves, but also to kill their enemy's in a somewhat tactical way. This also made them a threat to other gangs. The other gangs would either be killed completely, or they would escape before any violence broke out.

The MS-13 also rose to power because of the number of members. Today, statistics say that there are over 50,000 international members in the MS-13. To put that number more in perspective in relation to other widely known gangs, the Klu Klux Klan (KKK) has only around 5,000 members, and the Crips have estimated 30,000-35,000 members. Their rapid membership allowed them to spread out across several countries, and establish their cliques of power from Canada, to Mexico. Many gangs do not attempt to get mixed up with MS-13 because they can expect a full attack response from many members.

One other way that the MS-13 gained power, while other rival gangs lost power was through intimidation.

Mara Salvatrucha is widely known for its gruesome ways of murder that shocked both authorities, and rival gangs. This includes slitting an enemy's throat with a machete, watching him bleed out, and then shooting him for good measure. Other ways include vicious stabbings to death, gunshot to the head during the bright morning, beheading, or machine gun massacres. This sent a message to many people, and allowed MS-13 to gain attraction, which in turn gave them power because of all the recruitment opportunities that the media basically did for them.