The Hidden Hand

The Hidden Hand explores global resistance and activism against oppressive regimes and economic systems, focusing on surveillance, control, and the spread of anarchist and far-left ideologies. It chronicles journeys across multiple continents, highlighting political struggles, cultural insights, and the evolution of communication and societal models.

Global Politics and Activism Anarchism and Far-Left Ideologies Cultural and Societal Insights Colonialism and Its Impact Economic Systems and Inequality Travel and Adventure Technology and Communication Historical Movements and Theories

The hottest Substack posts of The Hidden Hand

And their main takeaways

Timeline of the Manhunt

58 implied HN points • 19 Jun 23
  1. During the manhunt in Colombia, Dr. Feeney's communication channels were blocked by cartels and the NSA, preventing him from sharing findings with the world.
  2. After evading the manhunt, an email communication channel opened with Maria Espitia, allowing Dr. Feeney to subtly influence shadowy forces.
  3. Email transcripts reveal complex interactions, including code words, hints of danger, and the struggle for communication and understanding.

Mesoamerica with the Zapatistas

0 implied HN points • 20 Jan 22
  1. The history and influence of the Zapatistas in Mexico and their role in sparking the anti-globalization movement in the 1990s.
  2. The significance of Teotihuacan as the first great civilization in the Mexico valley, with its unique architecture and complex urban culture.
  3. The experience of traveling through Mexico, encountering different cultures, political movements, and transitioning from rural to urban settings.

The turbulent Southern Cone

0 implied HN points • 13 Jan 22
  1. Latin America has a rich history of political ideologies and parties, including strong far left influence.
  2. European colonization in the Americas led to devastating impacts on indigenous populations.
  3. Argentina and Chile have unique cultural influences, such as the macho gaucho ideal and Prussian military traditions.

The ruins of apartheid

0 implied HN points • 07 Jan 22
  1. Pretoria has a history tied to white supremacists, with a rich gold deposit shaping its economy.
  2. Central Pretoria remained largely white post-apartheid, with significant economic disparities.
  3. Johannesburg experienced rapid change post-apartheid, facing security issues and a shift in population demographics.

Into East Africa

0 implied HN points • 16 Dec 21
  1. British Imperialists aimed to connect East Africa from the Cape to Cairo with transportation infrastructure.
  2. Settler colonialism in British East Africa led to significant changes in land ownership, economy, and culture.
  3. Nairobi serves as a hub for tourism and safari in East Africa, with unique challenges like crime and inequality.
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Central African Republic: you see how we suffer

0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 21
  1. The journey to Central African Republic from Cameroon involved unforeseen challenges like lack of transportation and running short of money.
  2. Being vigilant and assertive in protecting one's belongings helped navigate through potentially risky situations while traveling through Central African Republic.
  3. Despite the difficult journey full of potential threats and challenges, managing to adapt, stay alert, and make strategic decisions led to a safe arrival in Bangui, the capital city.

Cameroun - Cameroon - Kamerun

0 implied HN points • 06 Dec 21
  1. Journeying through Cameroon's rainforests can be an adventurous experience.
  2. Local town interactions can give insights into the vibrant culture and way of life.
  3. Being prepared for unpredictable delays and challenges is key for travel in remote areas.

Nigeria, bubblin'

0 implied HN points • 02 Dec 21
  1. Nigeria is divided into 3 parts separated by the Niger and Benue rivers, with diverse cultures and ethnic groups.
  2. Nigeria's immense population, estimated around 100-125 million, faces challenges but displays resilience in times of crisis.
  3. Nigeria's challenges include corruption, decay due to changing oil prices, but there's also strong education, culture, and resistance movements.

Burkina Faso - big men and little people

0 implied HN points • 15 Nov 21
  1. Burkina Faso has a rich traditional culture that is visible in daily life and rituals.
  2. The country's living conditions show a stark contrast between urban comfort and rural poverty.
  3. The political landscape is dominated by autocratic 'big men' like President Blaise Compaore, who have a significant impact on society.

Pray for Ghana

0 implied HN points • 22 Nov 21
  1. The town of Axim in Ghana had a powerful religious fervor, with prayer meetings and singing that continued late into the night.
  2. Christianity in Ghana is deeply ingrained, with churches everywhere, from radio stations to schools.
  3. The study highlights cultural differences between Ghana and Francophone countries, such as language barriers and food preferences.

Chekov's back!

0 implied HN points • 31 Oct 21
  1. Chekov Feeney is back after a long hiatus and is determined to complete their writing project.
  2. The author plans to publish new posts every Monday and Thursday mornings.
  3. Reader support and feedback are welcomed as Chekov Feeney restarts their online presence.

The birth of the anti-globalisation movement

0 implied HN points • 08 Jan 16
  1. The Zapatista uprising in Mexico inspired hope for revolutionary change by challenging traditional ideas of power and democracy.
  2. The anti-globalization movement, stemming from the Zapatistas, brought together diverse groups globally to oppose unfair economic systems imposed by wealthy nations.
  3. Protests such as J18 in London and the battle of Seattle marked significant moments that mobilized anarchists and activists to attract media attention and oppose global economic institutions.

You don't want to go to Dakar

0 implied HN points • 08 Nov 21
  1. Many people in Casamance have a negative view of Dakar due to economic conditions and living challenges.
  2. Dakar is a bustling city with Western-style housing models, high prices, noise, pollution, and inadequate public transport.
  3. Senegal's democracy, while frequent, is influenced by corruption, clientelism, and lack of significant change for the general population.

The leadership of ideas

0 implied HN points • 10 Apr 15
  1. Anarchists believe power imbalances lead to injustice and exploitation.
  2. Anarchism aims to abolish power imbalances for equal cooperation.
  3. The strategy of anarchist groups focuses on moral and logical superiority in advocating for their principles.

The socialist model: limitations and pitfalls

0 implied HN points • 10 Sep 14
  1. The socialist model accurately predicts general conflicts between labor and capital but fails to predict specific dynamics of those conflicts.
  2. Identity-based group cohesion plays a significant role in societies alongside economic self-interest, impacting socialist model predictions.
  3. The socialist model's application can lead to internalization by individuals, causing communication issues and oversimplification of conflicts.

Arise comrade Chekov

0 implied HN points • 01 Jul 14
  1. Building a political organization, especially a revolutionary anarchist one, is extremely difficult due to lack of resources and competition.
  2. Becoming involved in a far-left group can help overcome political isolation and offer a supportive community.
  3. Understanding the theoretical and strategic reasoning behind far-left activities can make their motivations more comprehensible.

The birth of mass internet communication

0 implied HN points • 10 Dec 13
  1. The internet allowed for the birth of mass communication, making it accessible to a wider audience in the late 1990s.
  2. The rise of anarchism on the internet in the late 1990s was a result of the elimination of population-density thresholds for sub-cultural formation.
  3. Running an open Internet communication channel often attracts negative behavior due to anonymity and lack of social feedback signals.

European obstacles

0 implied HN points • 25 Aug 14
  1. European research consortia face complex bureaucratic procedures to secure multi-million euro grants from Horizon 2020 funding program.
  2. Coordinating European research projects involves navigating excessive administrative overhead and bureaucratic complexity.
  3. Success in securing European funding relies on not just bureaucratic prowess but also on fostering international collaborations and developing high-quality historical datasets.

The great generalisation machine

0 implied HN points • 18 Oct 13
  1. The brain is a generalization machine, constantly simplifying and summarizing complex information to make decisions.
  2. Emotions play a key role in driving behavior, providing direction based on desirable and undesirable emotional states.
  3. Humans tend to over-generalize from limited examples due to evolutionary reasons, but it can lead to biases and challenges in navigating modern large-scale societies.

Navigating an endless ocean of complexity

0 implied HN points • 14 Oct 13
  1. Human decision making involves complex calculations across different levels and time frames.
  2. Computers and algorithms face challenges in dealing with inherently complex problems like chess.
  3. The brain as a computing device is incredibly sophisticated in navigating complexity, but cannot rationally calculate all outcomes due to intractability.

What is the left?

0 implied HN points • 30 Jul 13
  1. The left can be broadly classified into Far Left, Team USSR, Social Democrats, Freedom Fighters, and Hippies based on their beliefs and social weight.
  2. The far-left is highly fragmented, focused on theory, has committed members, but low social weight.
  3. Understanding the left involves recognizing different groups' approaches to social and economic equality, despite appearing fragmented.

Dublin: importing a counter-culture (part 2)

0 implied HN points • 20 Jun 13
  1. A group in Dublin attempted cultural subversion through graffiti but got caught by police, highlighting challenges of importing counter-cultural activities.
  2. The counter-culture scene in Dublin in the 1990s involved chaos, flakiness, and a tolerance for mischief, making it challenging to navigate for some.
  3. A peak in the counter-culture movement was seen with an anarchist bookshop and cafe called the Garden of Delight, which hosted various events, but also faced internal chaos and challenges.

Models and their discontents

0 implied HN points • 14 Jun 13
  1. Understanding models is crucial for analyzing and comprehending systems.
  2. Models involve entities, states, constraints, rules, time, and mappings to reality.
  3. Models are necessary for analyzing complex systems, but need a reliable mapping to reality for validity.

Chomsky starts a fire

0 implied HN points • 17 May 13
  1. Chomsky's core argument revolves around 3 main hypotheses: the US as an empire, elites protecting power internally, and media alignment with powerful interests.
  2. Chomsky's theories challenge fundamental assumptions and can cause a paradigm shift in thinking, similar to how scientific revolutions reshape science.
  3. Anarchism provided a new framework during a time of disillusionment in the early 1990s, offering something different amid global changes.

The left and political theory: a disaster story

0 implied HN points • 15 May 13
  1. The bulk of leftist political theory traces back to Karl Marx, but there were flaws in his analysis.
  2. The rigidity in Marxist theory led to a resistance to adapting to new scientific findings, resulting in theoretical ossification.
  3. Abandoning sound structural analysis, wishful thinking, and reliance on old theories without updates contributed to the decline in leftist political theory.

From Chomsky to "le grand theft fromage"

0 implied HN points • 09 May 13
  1. Noam Chomsky's documentary 'Manufacturing Consent' provided a new perspective on media and corporate influence.
  2. The 1995 general strike in Paris showcased the power of workers' organization and solidarity.
  3. A drunken prank involving a large stolen cheese wheel in Paris highlighted the influence of the social atmosphere during times of upheaval.

The counter-cultural fringes

0 implied HN points • 23 May 13
  1. Growing up in a modern society often presents a pre-ordained life pattern with little room for creativity or self-expression.
  2. Counter-cultures emerge from a combination of alienation and surplus, creating alternatives hostile to mainstream values.
  3. Exploring the counter-cultural fringes reveals a world outside normal rules and regulations, operating openly and on a large scale.

General Artificial Intelligence & the Singularity

0 implied HN points • 28 Apr 22
  1. Artificial Intelligence may surpass human intelligence and reach a point of singularity where it takes control of its own improvement.
  2. To motivate a general artificial intelligence, we need to specify goals that prioritize maximizing human happiness and avoiding harm to others.
  3. In a world governed by general AI, deep-rooted beliefs about hard work, reproduction, wealth accumulation, and free will may clash with the system's efficiency and optimization for happiness.

Science and Influence

0 implied HN points • 03 Apr 22
  1. Science has had a major impact on human social evolution, shifting away from elite competition.
  2. Influence stems from identifying with respected figures and institutions, rather than truth or logic.
  3. Scientific conspiracies operate in plain sight to influence global thinking, seeking to transition to an egalitarian society.

The indigenous heights

0 implied HN points • 17 Jan 22
  1. Bolivia hosts varied ecology and cultures, including ancient farming practices and indigenous pack animals.
  2. Potosi was a major silver-mining town, later replaced by tin-mining, with challenging conditions for miners.
  3. La Paz's unique geography results in different social strata and dangers in the Amazon rainforest.

Uganda - guerillas and chimpanzees

0 implied HN points • 20 Dec 21
  1. The Great Lakes in Uganda hold a significant portion of the world's fresh water.
  2. Adventure tourism in Uganda attracts thrill-seekers interested in activities like white-water rafting.
  3. Uganda's history reflects a complex past, from colonial influences to challenges of post-independence and current political dynamics.

Togo & Benin

0 implied HN points • 25 Nov 21
  1. Togo's border with Ghana was based on colonial division, causing practical challenges and tension in Lome.
  2. Togo's president Eyadema ruled through repression and corruption, surviving many challenges.
  3. Benin's Cotonou is a bustling city based on smuggling, while stilt villages and historical sites offer unique experiences.

Mali: take one large river, one large desert....

0 implied HN points • 11 Nov 21
  1. Mali offers a challenging travel experience due to extreme heat, scarcity of goods, and poor infrastructure.
  2. The country's landscape is defined by the Sahara desert and the Niger river, making life difficult yet possible.
  3. Travelling in Mali involves rough transportation methods, such as overcrowded vans and slow boats, along with persistent requests for money from locals.

Reds in tooth and claw

0 implied HN points • 03 Jul 15
  1. Far-left organizations compete for limited resources, especially recruits, leading to a 'survival of the fittest' situation.
  2. Competition among far-left groups is intense, even within similar ideologies, with subtle divisions based on ideology, culture, and class.
  3. Public demonstrations become battlegrounds for rival far-left organizations to attract new recruits through tactics like branded materials and strategic positioning.

Socialism: a predictive model

0 implied HN points • 01 Sep 14
  1. The socialist worldview predicts that class conflict between capital owners and labor providers will dominate modern capitalist societies, with historical evidence supporting this prediction.
  2. Income distribution in capitalist systems remains flexible, as the division between capital and labor can vary widely without affecting productivity, backed by empirical data.
  3. The socialist model asserts that states tend to intervene in favor of capital owners over labor during economic conflicts, supported by evidence of state actions aligning with capitalist interests.

The very untrendy left

0 implied HN points • 07 Nov 13
  1. The far left is often perceived as 'trendy' by Irish newspapers, but in reality, joining a far-left group is seen as socially unattractive.
  2. The far left in Ireland faces challenges due to its negative public image, which stems from its activities such as handing out leaflets and using obscure language.
  3. Despite its poor public image, many members of the far left join because they prioritize their political convictions over concerns about social standing.

The limits of counter-culture

0 implied HN points • 28 Aug 13
  1. Historical Roots: Counter-cultural communities have existed alongside leftist politics, emphasizing model communities and cultural norms over political participation.
  2. Lifestylism vs Class Struggle: Debate between counter-cultural lifestyle choices and traditional political socialism, with focus on building autonomous communities.
  3. Seriousness: Transition from the chaotic counter-culture world to the disciplined far-left activism highlights the importance of commitment and organization in political movements.

Afghanistan: what the hell happened there?

0 implied HN points • 08 Jul 13
  1. NATO handed over control to local Afghan forces with the US aiming to withdraw troops by end of 2014.
  2. US spent billions on Afghan war and the country still faces weak state and Taliban threat.
  3. US motives for the war in Afghanistan might have included deterrence, but humanitarian and anti-Islamic goals appear less significant.

Dublin: importing a counter-culture

0 implied HN points • 18 Jun 13
  1. In the late 1980s and early 1990s, a significant cultural shift occurred in Dublin, Ireland, leading to liberalization and changes in societal norms.
  2. Key events like the decriminalization of homosexuality, availability of contraceptives, and removal of the prohibition of divorce in Ireland led to a dramatic change in cultural attitudes.
  3. Factors such as European influences, economic growth, demographic shifts, and access to foreign media played a role in accelerating cultural liberalization in Dublin.

Delhi and its culture shock

0 implied HN points • 07 Jun 13
  1. Encountering culture shock when traveling to a new place can be overwhelming and persistent.
  2. The extreme poverty in third world cities like Delhi is staggering and difficult to comprehend, with visible human misery and lack of hygiene standards.
  3. Interpersonal relationships in countries with economic disparities like India can be complex and challenging due to cultural differences and exploitation of tourists.