Sincerity, Hypocrisy, and Conspiracy Theory in the Occupied Palestinian Territory.

Allen, Lori

Abstract

Concerns about lying and sincerity in politics are common in most societies, as are concerns about conspiracy theories. But in the occupied Palestinian territory, these concerns give rise to particular kinds of effects because of the conditions of Israeli occupation. Political theorists often interpret opacity claims and conspiracy theories as responses to social disorder. In occupied Palestine, disorder and instability are standard. Opacity claims and conspiracy theories therefore require a different kind of analysis. Through an examination of the semiotic ideology of sincerity, especially as it has emerged in the conflict between Fatah and Hamas, this article argues that opacity claims act as a form of nationalist pedagogy, at once reinforcing the basic principles of sincerity of action and word, and encouraging a wariness of political spin.

Citation

Allen, L. (2016). Sincerity, Hypocrisy, and Conspiracy Theory in the Occupied Palestinian Territory. International Journal of Middle East Studies, 48(4), 701-720. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020743816000830

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Sep 30, 2016
• Publication Date: Nov 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: May 17, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 1, 2016
• Journal: International Journal of Middle East Studies
• Print ISSN: 0020-7438
• Electronic ISSN: 1471-6380
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 48
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 701-720
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/S0020743816000830
• Keywords: Palestine, Hamas, Fatah, sincerity, ethics, political anthropology