When & Where: I found the word 'foment' while reading an article online on The Nation magazine's website. The article was about citizens in states across the U.S. filing petitions for secession. The sentence was, "The former willfully miscast neoliberal globalization as cosmopolitanism
and then try to reassert the primacy of the nation-state against its
onslaught, scapegoating minorities to foment and exploit moral panic
over the loss of “culture.”Definition: According to merriam-webster.com, foment means, "to promote the growth or development of: rouse, incite."
Level of Familiarity: I have heard this word before, but I haven't seen it in writing until now. When I read it in the sentence, I thought it might mean to expand.
Reflective Commentary: This word is interesting. I think that most people use the word "incite" rather than "foment." It is much less common. Because I don't see it as often, I don't know if I'll use it. At least now when I read about current events, I will know what it means. I imagine that this word is important given the instability of political climates around the world.
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