“Who Runs Honduras?” Evaluating the Political Reach of the Ten Families

During the early twentieth century, Honduras experienced a surge in immigration. Many immigrant families went on to commercialize underdeveloped industries in the country, and accumulated substantial wealth by relying on one another to establish strong networks and strategic alliances, expanding their businesses and ultimately becoming the country's dominant economic elites. As their economic power grew, so too did the perception that they wielded political influence. By 2009, during the democratic destabilization marked by the removal of President Manuel Zelaya, the ten families were widely blamed for orchestrating the coup, fueled by claims that they acted to protect their private interests. However, the idea that these families have controlled the country's political workings lacks definitive evidence and is largely perception-based, especially given that few family members have held formal government positions. This thesis evaluates the historical events that shaped the perception of the ten families as a dominant political force and argues that this narrative no longer holds as strongly today, as emerging political factions compete with the ten families for governmental control.