The Hidden Hand: Middle East Fears of Conspiracy

As the first full-length study of conspiracy theories in the Middle East, The Hidden Hand reveals how such theories play a powerful role in the political life of the region. Placing conspiracy theories in their historical context, Daniel Pipes shows how the idea of the conspiracy has come to suffuse life in the Middle East, from the most private family conversations to the highest and most public levels of politics. Pipes then looks at conspiracies and their strength as a partial explanation for much of the region?s problems, including its record of political extremism, its culture of violence, and its lack of modernization. Concluding with speculations about the future of conspiracy theories, Pipes provides a key to understanding the often complicated political culture of the Middle East.
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1-10 out of 10

From: Amazon
Posted: Mar-23-2009

Informative, but focuses mainly on the statements of rulers and officials, leaving out popular attitudes

During a recent hitchhiking journey through the Middle East, I was shocked by how often the locals claimed the West was wholly subservient by the Jews and out to get pious Muslims. When I told people I had come from Finland, a country very much on the periphery of religiously diverse Europe, the...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Nov-10-2008

A revelation for our time

Daniel Pipes grasps the character of the Middle Eastern mind; his true expertise in this field is evident in all the pages, and is up to par with his other informative books. I would recommend this book to anyone who is studying the Middle East, or is simply interested in knowing more about this...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-30-2008

The 9/11 Conspiracy

Whether you believe the official version, or other versions, 9/11 was a conspiracy.A conspiracy is merely two or more persons, agreeing in secret to commit an unlawful act.Dr. Pipes hides behind labels ("conspiracy") because the facts are unarguable.We challenge Dr. Pipes to rebut our...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Oct-30-2007

Indispensable

Balanced, fair, sensible and compelling: it would be unwise for students, professionals, or scholars to venture into the murky world of politics in the Middle East without reading this book.

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From: Amazon
Posted: Dec-10-2004

A well written book on a topic that's often overlooked

Is it proper to discuss the popular beliefs of a group of people? Of course it is. Some groups of people are very superstitious. Some are more mystical than others. And some groups dwell on conspiracy theories to a surprising extent.Pipes is right to being up this topic. He simply had so...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-18-2002

A Must Read

Anyone interested in Middle East policies, politics, and general viewpoints would be wise to read this book. It goes a long way in explaining the backgound positions which pertain to the Palestinian-Isaeli conflict, the events of September 11, the Gulf War, etc. A fascinating and in-depth...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Mar-15-1999

Good reading now, valuable reference piece in the future

This book was read by the undersigned shortly after reading another book on conspiracies,"committe of 300 by coleman. Anyone interested in the truth as to conspiracys which have been perpetrated on, over and around you on a continuous basis for years, should make both the hidden hand and...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Aug-16-1998

superficial & technically defective

I know the Mid-East, having lived & travelled there constantly for more than ten years & having returned very often since my last residence there to travel even more. Like the author, I am Ph.D. holder -- Mid-East history. I find this book very superficial; what else can it be for lack of...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-20-1997

Part of the Elephant Isn't the Whole Elephant

The famous Indian story of the blind men who attempt to describe an elephant by only grasping parts of the animal applies to Pipes' work. He is quite correct in noting the destructive penchant for conspiracy theories in the Middle East. Where he goes awry is relying on this to explain away...

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From: Amazon
Posted: Apr-11-1997

Insightful analysis of this important phenomenon.

Dan Pipes is trenchant, witty and insightful as always. Pipes is one of my favorite authors in this field. The only other I would rank in the "first tier" with Pipes is Bernard Lewis. Dr. Pipes does a wonderful job analyzing the psychological forces at work in the Muslim world. His academic...

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