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Established parties in power are increasingly allowing the far right to set the political agenda, as per a new study conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers discovered that this trend has unwittingly helped radical groups by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Analysis Based on Two Decades of News Coverage

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

Berlin-based scholars noted that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to central subjects like assimilation and immigration, established political groups increasingly adjusted their communication in reaction.

This adjustment amplified the spread of these ideas and signaled to the electorate that such stances were legitimate.

Consequences for Democracy

"Political communication by mainstream parties is crucial in the voting performance of the radical right," explained a expert in political behavior participating in the study.

"This factor has been overlooked," she added.

The impact was noticeable even when conventional parties were criticising the far right. "They still receive focus," the researcher commented. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is key."

Normalisation Effect Across Europe

While the research was focused on the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to apply to countries throughout the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," explained another co-author. "The far right says something and everyone starts talking about it for several days."

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

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

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

In a recent discussion, a former German chancellor advocated large-scale expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

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

This has formed an feedback loop that would have been unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about cultural issues – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is determined by the pace of the radical right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," clarified a researcher.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the hardline agenda of the radical right, despite studies suggests that this approach drives the electorate to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

The extent of data collected showed that the influence of radical groups had been progressive and had increased over time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "However, when you encounter this pessimistic narrative around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Requirement for Established Groups to Develop Their Distinct Discourses

The research emphasized the need for mainstream parties to develop their own discourses, particularly on topics such as immigration and integration, rather than continuously trailing after the far right.

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