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Established parties in power are increasingly allowing the far right to dictate the political agenda, as per a recent research carried out in Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has unwittingly benefited far-right parties by validating their viewpoints and disseminating them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of Media Reporting

The results, published in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an automated text analysis of more than 520,000 news pieces from six national newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers noted that as the radical faction shifted from fringe issues in the 1990s era to central themes like assimilation and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted 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

"Political discourse by established political groups is crucial in the electoral success of the radical right," explained a political sociologist involved in the study.

"This factor has been underestimated," she added.

The effect was evident even when mainstream groups were criticising the radical faction. "They still receive focus," the expert remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is key."

Mainstreaming Effect Across the Continent

While the research was focused on Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to apply to countries throughout the European continent.

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," explained another researcher. "The far right makes a statement and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

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

Hardening of Political Discourse

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

In a recently published interview, a then German chancellor called for large-scale deportations and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Comparable examples can be observed throughout Europe, as elected officials from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to the French Republic adopt the rhetoric of the far right, especially on migration.

This has formed an echo chamber that was unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Problem: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are talking about societal topics – migration, integration – in a way that is determined by the pace 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 hardline agenda of the radical right, despite research indicates that this approach leads voters to vote for the radical faction.

Progressive Impact and Voter Awareness

The scope of information collected showed that the influence of far-right parties had been progressive and had increased with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented a researcher. "However, when you hear this negative framing around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Develop Their Own Discourses

The study highlighted the necessity for established political parties to carve out their own narratives, particularly on subjects such as migration and assimilation, rather than constantly following the far right.

"It's like a dance," said one author. "When the leader is radical and you're responding to them, you lose the ability to choose which music should be heard."