INTERNATIONAL TUTELAGE AND DOMESTIC POLITICAL WILL - BUILDING A NEW CIVILIAN POLICE FORCE IN EL SALVADOR

Under peace accords signed in January of 1992, a new civilian police f orce replaced the military as the sole agency responsible for providin g internal security in El Salvador. This new institution has the poten tial to substantially transform the relationship of citizen and state, to improve both human rights and public safety, and, eventually, to r educe tensions in civil-military relations. Despite extensive internat ional participation in and verification of this project, however, impl ementation proved difficult. Political polarization and lack of politi cal will on the part of the government initially undercut the civilian character of the project, while the international community proved un able or unwilling to provide sufficient material assistance. Significa nt improvements took place under a new presidential administration, wh ich had greater will to implement the project as designed.