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Mainstream political parties are more and more allowing the radical right to set the political agenda, as per a recent study conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has inadvertently helped far-right groups by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The results, released in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an automated text analysis of more than 520,000 articles from six national newspapers.

Capital-based researchers observed that as the radical faction shifted from fringe issues in the late 1990s to core themes like integration and immigration, established political groups progressively adjusted their communication in response.

This adaptation amplified the dissemination of these ideas and indicated to voters that such stances were legitimate.

Consequences for Democracy

"Political communication by mainstream parties is crucial in the electoral success of the radical right," stated a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was evident even when conventional parties were condemning the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher remarked. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Mainstreaming Effect Across the Continent

While the research was centered around Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to apply to countries across the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in European media," said another researcher. "The far right makes a statement and everyone begins discussing it for several days."

"Although you're countering it, you're repeating it," he stated.

Hardening of Political Rhetoric

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

In a recently published discussion, a then national leader advocated large-scale expulsions and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar examples can be observed across Europe, as politicians from nations including the UK to the French Republic adopt the rhetoric of the radical right, particularly on migration.

This has created an echo chamber that was inconceivable a decade ago.

Core Problem: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about societal topics – immigration, integration – in a way that is determined by the pace of the far right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the strict agenda of the far right, despite studies suggests that doing so drives voters to cast their ballot for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

The extent of data gathered showed that the impact of far-right parties had been gradual and had grown with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "But if you encounter this negative framing around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Requirement for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Own Discourses

The study highlighted the necessity for established political parties to carve out their own discourses, especially on topics such as migration and assimilation, rather than constantly following the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one researcher. "If the conductor is radical and you're responding to them, you lose the ability to choose which tune should be heard."