The word avant-garde was introduced into politics in the 19th century. The word comes from the French and refers to those at the front of a formation.

The idea of the 'vanguard' spread and became a metaphor for thinking about what the desired society would be like and what means should be used to achieve it. But in the 20th century, the avantgarde began to disarm and, around 1980 or 1990, the new stopped being a rupture and become a business, he says.