"To be a provocateur you need people who get provoked," writes KQED's Sam Harnett.
There's a complex history of "provocateurs" that is worth revisiting in light of "Free Speech Week," which was set to kick off at UC Berkeley this Sunday.
On Friday, student organizers canceled the controversial event, which was to feature a long list of right-wing speakers, including conservative author Milo Yiannopoulos and former White House Strategist Steve Bannon.
Adding to the confusion, UC Berkeley officials say the organizers have not communicated the cancellation, and so the university will continue to prepare for the event.
The term "agent provocateur" first appeared around the French Revolution and referred to people the police or army hired to incite activists to commit violence.