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Mainstream political parties are increasingly enabling the far right to dictate the political agenda, as per a recent study conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly benefited far-right groups by legitimising their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of Media Reporting

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an computerized content review of over 520,000 articles from six German publications.

Capital-based scholars observed that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to core subjects like assimilation and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their communication in response.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Public communication by established parties plays a central role in the voting performance of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior participating in the study.

"This element has been underestimated," she noted.

The effect was noticeable even when mainstream groups were criticising the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the expert remarked. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Normalisation Effect Throughout Europe

While the research was centered around the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to apply to countries across the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," said another researcher. "The far right says something and everyone begins discussing it for several days."

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

Toughening of Political Discourse

At certain points, political figures have also toughened their discourse to match that of the radical right.

In a recent discussion, a then national leader called for widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable instances can be found throughout the continent, as elected officials from nations ranging from the UK to the French Republic embrace the language of the radical right, particularly on immigration.

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

Central Issue: Who Sets the Narrative?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about societal topics – immigration, integration – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Some political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline platform of the far right, despite research indicates that this approach leads the electorate to vote for the radical faction.

Progressive Impact and Public Perception

The scope of information gathered showed that the impact of far-right groups had been progressive and had increased over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented a co-author. "However, when you hear this pessimistic narrative around migration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline travels further."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Develop Their Own Discourses

The research highlighted the need for established political parties to develop their own narratives, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, rather than continuously trailing after the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," explained one researcher. "If the conductor is far-right and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which music should be playing."