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Established parties in power are increasingly enabling the radical right to dictate the political agenda, as per a new study conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped radical groups by legitimising their viewpoints and spreading them more widely.

Study Based on Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The results, released in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an automated text analysis of over 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen German newspapers.

Berlin-based scholars noted that as the far right shifted from fringe issues in the 1990s era to central themes like integration and migration, mainstream political groups progressively adjusted their communication in response.

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

Consequences for Democratic Systems

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

"This element has been overlooked," she added.

The effect was noticeable even when conventional parties were criticising the far right. "They still receive focus," the researcher commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this focus is key."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Throughout the Continent

While the study was focused on the German context, this normalisation effect is probable to affect nations across Europe.

"You see this a lot in German and British news outlets," explained another researcher. "Radical groups says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

"Even if you're opposing it, you're echoing it," he stated.

Hardening of Political Rhetoric

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

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

Comparable instances can be found throughout the continent, as politicians from countries ranging from the United Kingdom to France embrace the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on migration.

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

Core Problem: Who Sets the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing societal topics – migration, assimilation – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the far right, that's the whole idea of narrative control," clarified a researcher.

Other parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy 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 Public Perception

The scope of information collected revealed that the influence of radical groups 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. "However, when you encounter this negative framing around immigration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Need for Established Groups to Carve Out Their Distinct Narratives

The research emphasized the necessity for established parties to develop their own discourses, especially on topics such as migration and integration, instead of continuously following the far right.

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