User Tools

(aka 'the best point military institute')

Site Tools

hazards:agent-provocateurs

Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

Link to this comparison view

Next revision		Previous revision
hazards:agent-provocateurs [2024/05/19 21:47] – created - external edit 127.0.0.1hazards:agent-provocateurs [2025/12/02 07:10] (current) – [Agent Provocateurs] Humphrey Boa-Gart
Line 1: Line 1:
 ====== Agent Provocateurs ====== ====== Agent Provocateurs ======
  
 +An **agent provocateur** is a French phrase, which in English means **"inciting agent".** As the name implies, they try to incite. The agent provocateur is a type of [[tactics:lying|dishonest scoundrel]], with a two-phase mode of attack:
  
-{{tag>Hazards Stubs}}+**Phase One:** They first infiltrate a group //(activists, labor union, infosec team, religious body, etc)//, putting on the **guise of a supporter** long enough to be able to move freely within the group. At a rally, this can be as simple as walking up to the frontline with a sign, and hanging around for 10 minutes. With other groups, it may take months //(or years)// of infiltration work to get into position. 
 + 
 +**Phase Two:** Once inside enough to pass as a member of the group, the agent provocateur then attempts to bait the group into behaving counter to its interests. The agent may use [[tactics:concern trolling]] to weaken morale, or send the group on a [[hazards:red herring|wild goose chase]]. Going back to the rally example, the provocateur might start trying to bait the crowd into violent actions. In these cases, the provocateur is oftentimes a member of law enforcement, trying to create pretext to "lawfully retaliate" against the crowd. The provocateur, under the guise of a [[tactics:catfishing|personal confidante]], might try to trick you into implicating yourself and your comrades as part of an illegal conspiracy, as a form of [[tactics:lawfare]]. Or the provocateur, in a corporate setting, might try to encourage a sellout to their chief competitor. 
 + 
 +There are many forms the provocateur can take, but their tactic is the same: **To provoke you and those around you into doing things that are guaranteed to come back and bite you in the ass.** 
 + 
 +===== Agents in Military History ===== 
 + 
 +Agent provocateurs have long served governments, cults and vigilantes. It was a technique even known to the Ancient World, as many spiritual texts include stories or parables involving provocateurs. One such story is in the Gospels, when the Pharisees & Herodians attempt to bait Jesus into inciting his followers to challenge Caesar. 
 + 
 +Many recent governments have been known to use the provocateur against civil dissident movements. 19th-20th century **Great Britain**, **Russia** and **Germany**, were notorious for this, but it seems every country is getting in on it nowadays. In the United States, the use of provocateurs was a core [[wp>COINTELPRO]] tactic, and before that it was employed by **rail and mining barons** to suppress strikes. 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 + 
 +{{tag>Hazards}}
hazards/agent-provocateurs.1716155256.txt.gz · Last modified: (external edit)

Find this page online at: https://bestpoint.institute/hazards/agent-provocateurs