propaganda of the deed
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English
Alternative forms
Etymology
Calque of French propagande par le fait rendered into idiomatic English, from propagande (“propaganda”) and fait (“deed, act, action”); a phrasal usage originating among 19th century insurrectionary anarchist communists.
Pronunciation
Noun
propaganda of the deed (uncountable) (politics, historical)
- A politically motivated act of violence, meant to broadcast an ideological message and serve as catalyst to ignite a spirit of socialist revolution among the proletariat against perceived oppressors.
- (broadly) The theoretical principle of using acts of violence in the struggle to achieve radical left-wing political goals.
Usage notes
- Older direct translations of the French phrase render more literally as propaganda by the deed, which may also be used in some general contexts for those unfamiliar with the phrase to emphasize the meaning of "propaganda by (means of) a deed"; however as a developed term of art for the anarchist precept, in native English contexts the idiomatic construction propaganda of the deed is preferred.
Translations
a provocative act of political violence intended to inspire imitators and foment an anarchist revolt
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See also
Further reading
Insurrectionary anarchism on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
