Recuperation (politics)

Recuperation (in politics) is when one group takes a message or idea that was started by another group and uses it for their own gain. For example, let's say there is a group of people who are trying to make the world a better place by trying to pass a law to recycle more items. They work hard to make people aware of the importance of recycling and how it can help the environment. Now, another group (maybe a political party or political leader) sees that this message is popular, so they decide to use it for their own political gain by claiming credit for it and using it in their own campaigns. This is called "recuperation" because the other group's message is being taken, or "recuperated," and used for the benefit of someone else.