WorldJuly 13, 2026
instrumentalisation
/ɪnˌstrʊmɛntəlaɪˈzeɪʃən/
Definition
The act of using ideas, people, or organizations as tools or means to achieve a specific political or strategic objective.
Etymology
Derived from the Latin 'instrumentum' (a tool or implement) combined with the suffix '-alise' (to make) and '-tion' (the act of). It entered English to describe the process of converting something into an instrument or utility.
In the news
In the article, the term refers to the danger of turning cultural and intellectual movements into mere political tools, as seen when intelligence agencies covertly funded organizations to advance anti-communist agendas.
The role of Catalan exile in the shaping of Europeanism
Read the full article ↗Real Academia Europea de Doctores