I, the Supreme: Literature and Caudillismo in Latin America
The Caudillo. AI art, photorealism "There is no power that does not leave a scar" — Augusto Roa Bastos (my translation) Introduction On July 31, 2025, the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador approved a constitutional reform allowing President Nayib Bukele to run indefinitely for reelection. The decision, supported by a pro-government parliamentary majority, has drawn national and international criticism for its impact on the separation of powers and institutional weakening. This recent episode revives a figure deeply rooted in the continent’s political history: the caudillo . Far from being an anomaly, the concentration of power in the hands of charismatic, paternalistic, and authoritarian leaders is part of a tradition that has marked Latin America since the 19th century. Literature has served as a relentless mirror of this reality, revealing the mechanisms of absolute power, the logic of fear, and the moral degradation produced by perpetual rule. This article analyzes...