The power of the intelligence services

The History of Intelligence Agencies from the Middle Ages to Today Intelligence agencies have a colorful image: it oscillates between the glamour of James Bond, the wickedness of Mata Hari, and the ruthlessness of the Mossad. Since spies and their organizations are largely exempt from public scrutiny even in democratic countries, they wield their power primarily in secret – often operating on the edge of legality. SPIEGEL authors and intelligence experts reveal the history of intelligence agencies through famous agents and spectacular, sometimes spectacularly failed, missions, from the courts of kings and emperors to the cyber warfare of the future. They also demonstrate how these organizations have become more powerful than ever since the 20th century.