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Mainstream parties in power are increasingly allowing the far right to set the public discourse, according to a recent research conducted in Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has unwittingly benefited radical parties by validating their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of News Reporting

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an automated text analysis of over 520,000 articles from a half-dozen national newspapers.

Capital-based researchers noted that as the radical faction moved from fringe issues in the late 1990s to core subjects like assimilation and migration, mainstream parties progressively adjusted their messaging in response.

This adjustment boosted the dissemination of these ideas and signaled to voters that such stances were acceptable.

Consequences for Democracy

"Public communication by established political groups is crucial in the electoral success of the radical right," stated a political sociologist involved in the study.

"This factor has been overlooked," she added.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream parties were condemning the radical faction. "They still receive focus," the researcher commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is crucial."

Normalisation Phenomenon Throughout Europe

While the study was focused on Germany, this normalisation effect is likely to apply to nations throughout Europe.

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

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

Hardening of Public Rhetoric

At certain points, leaders have also hardened their discourse to match that of the far 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 observed across Europe, as elected officials from nations ranging from the UK to the French Republic adopt the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on migration.

This has formed an feedback loop that would have been inconceivable a decade ago.

Central Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are discussing cultural issues – immigration, integration – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the strict agenda of the far right, even as research suggests that doing so leads the electorate to vote for the radical faction.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

The scope of information gathered showed that the influence of far-right parties 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 encounter this negative framing around migration every second week, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Requirement for Established Parties to Carve Out Their Own Narratives

The study highlighted the necessity for established parties to develop their distinct discourses, especially on topics such as immigration and assimilation, rather than continuously trailing after the far right.

"It's like a dance," said one researcher. "If the conductor is far-right and you're reacting to it, you lose the ability to choose which tune should be playing."