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Mainstream parties in power are increasingly allowing the far right to set the political agenda, as per a new research carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly benefited far-right groups by legitimising their ideas and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Study Drawing from Two Decades of News Coverage

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an automated text analysis of over 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen national newspapers.

Berlin-based scholars noted that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to core subjects like integration and migration, established parties progressively adjusted their communication in reaction.

This adjustment boosted the dissemination of these concepts and signaled to voters that such positions were legitimate.

Consequences for Democracy

"Political communication by mainstream political groups is crucial in the electoral success of the radical right," explained a political sociologist involved in the study.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was evident even when mainstream parties were condemning the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the expert remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this attention is key."

Normalisation Effect Throughout Europe

While the study was centered around the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to affect nations throughout the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," explained another co-author. "Radical groups says something and everybody begins discussing it for several days."

"Even if you're countering it, you're repeating it," he stated.

Hardening of Public Discourse

At times, leaders have also hardened their language to align with that of the radical right.

In a recently published interview, a former national leader advocated widespread deportations and pushed for them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar instances can be observed throughout the continent, as politicians from nations ranging from the UK to France adopt the language of the radical right, particularly on migration.

This has created an echo chamber that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

Core Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are discussing societal topics – migration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the far right, that's the whole idea of narrative control," clarified a study author.

Other political parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the hardline agenda of the radical right, even as research indicates that this approach leads voters to cast their ballot for the far right.

Progressive Influence and Voter Awareness

The scope of information collected revealed that the impact of radical parties had been gradual and had grown with the passage of time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from day to day," stated a co-author. "However, when you hear this negative framing around migration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Established Parties to Carve Out Their Own Narratives

The research highlighted the necessity for mainstream parties to carve out their own narratives, particularly on subjects such as immigration and integration, instead of constantly following the radical right.

"It resembles a choreography," said one researcher. "When the leader is radical and you're reacting to it, you lose the ability to choose which music should be heard."