The term “effet von Papen” refers to a political dynamic named after Franz von Papen, a German statesman who played a pivotal role in the events leading to Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in the early 1930s. The phrase is used to describe a situation where a powerful, conventional or technocratic actor (often within the business or political elite) manipulates or co-opts a rising radical movement or leader to achieve broader political goals, typically under the impression that control can be maintained or that the radical actor can be contained. Key points to understand:

• Origins: Franz von Papen acted as a conservative figure who helped facilitate Hitler’s appointment as chancellor in 1933, hoping to control him or to use him to stabilize the regime, only to be sidelined once Hitler consolidated power.
• Practical meaning: The “effet von Papen” describes the risk that elites can empower radical figures by giving them a platform, cabinet positions, or legitimacy, with the expectation of shaping or moderating them, but often ending with loss of influence and the radical actor gaining dominance.
• Contemporary usage: The term is used in political commentary to caution against elite accommodation of rising populist or extremist movements, as such strategies can backfire and strengthen the very forces they sought to manage.

If you’d like, I can tailor this to a specific current context or compare it to similar mechanisms in other political systems.