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Mainstream parties in power are more and more allowing the far right to dictate the public discourse, as per a new research conducted in Germany.

Academics found that this trend has unwittingly helped radical parties by validating their viewpoints and spreading them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Two Decades of News Reporting

The results, released in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an automated text analysis of over 520,000 news pieces from six German publications.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the far right shifted from fringe issues in the 1990s era to central themes like integration and immigration, mainstream political groups progressively adjusted their messaging in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Public communication by mainstream political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior participating in the research.

"This factor has been underestimated," she noted.

The impact was evident even when mainstream groups were criticising the radical faction. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Normalisation Effect Across Europe

While the research was focused on the German context, this normalisation effect is likely to apply to countries across Europe.

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," said another co-author. "The far right says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

"Although you're countering it, you're echoing it," he added.

Toughening of Public Discourse

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

In a recently published interview, a former German chancellor advocated large-scale expulsions and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable instances can be observed across the continent, as elected officials from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to France embrace the language of the far right, particularly on migration.

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

Core Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing societal topics – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

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

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The extent of information collected showed that the influence of far-right parties had been progressive and had grown over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented a researcher. "But if you encounter this pessimistic narrative around immigration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by established parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Requirement for Established Groups to Develop Their Distinct Narratives

The study highlighted the need for mainstream political parties to develop their own narratives, especially on subjects such as migration and integration, rather than constantly trailing after the far right.

"It's like a dance," explained one author. "If the conductor is far-right and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which music should be playing."