Security policy in Mexico, El Salvador and Colombia: an analysis of the discourse in their government plans

Abstract

This article analyzes the discursive frames of security embedded in the government plans of Mexico (2018–2024), El Salvador (2019–2024), and Colombia (2022–2026), corresponding to the administrations of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, Nayib Bukele, and Gustavo Petro, respectively. From a constructivist approach to public policy analysis, the study incorporates the concept of policy discourse, framing theory, and the human security paradigm to identify the dominant narratives and discursive strategies that legitimize each country’s security policies. The findings reveal that Mexico emphasizes a preventive approach focused on addressing the structural causes of violence, such as inequality and lack of opportunities. El Salvador presents a narrative that combines tough-on-crime rhetoric with prevention and productive reintegration, framing gangs as the primary source of insecurity. Colombia situates security within a framework of human security and social justice, integrating responses to both structural and armed violence through a reconciliation-oriented agenda. This study illustrates how each government discursively defines security problems, identifies key actors, and legitimizes policy responses. As part of a broader research project, the analysis lays the groundwork for future studies on the interplay between discourse, public policy, and state action in the realm of security.