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Mainstream parties in power are increasingly allowing the radical right to dictate the public discourse, according to a recent research conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped far-right groups by validating their ideas and disseminating them more widely.

Study Drawing from Two Decades of News Coverage

The results, published in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an automated text analysis of over 520,000 articles from six German publications.

Capital-based scholars observed that as the radical faction moved from fringe issues in the late 1990s to central themes like assimilation and immigration, established parties increasingly adjusted their communication in response.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Political discourse by established parties plays a central role in the voting performance of the far right," explained a expert in political behavior participating in the study.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when conventional 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 focus is key."

Normalisation Effect Across Europe

While the research was focused on the German context, this normalisation effect is likely to affect countries across the European continent.

"You see this a lot in European media," said another researcher. "The far right says something and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Hardening of Public Rhetoric

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

In a recent interview, a then national leader advocated large-scale deportations and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar instances can be observed across the continent, as politicians from nations including the United Kingdom to France embrace the language of the radical right, particularly on migration.

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

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are talking about societal topics – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the hardline agenda of the far right, even as studies indicates that doing so drives voters to vote for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Voter Awareness

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

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented 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 established parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Need for Mainstream Groups to Develop Their Own Narratives

The study emphasized the need for mainstream parties to carve out their distinct narratives, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, rather than constantly following the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one author. "When the leader is far-right and you're reacting to it, you lose the ability to choose which music should be heard."