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Established political parties are more and more enabling the radical right to dictate the public discourse, according to a recent research carried out in Germany.

Researchers found that this phenomenon has inadvertently helped far-right groups by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of Media Reporting

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

Capital-based researchers observed that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to core subjects like integration and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adjusted their communication in response.

This adaptation boosted the spread of these ideas and signaled to voters that such positions were acceptable.

Consequences for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by mainstream parties plays a central role in the voting performance of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

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

Normalisation Phenomenon Across Europe

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

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," explained another researcher. "The far right says something and everybody begins discussing it for one week."

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

Hardening of Public Discourse

At certain points, political figures have also toughened their language to align with that of the radical right.

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

Comparable examples can be found across Europe, as elected officials from countries including the UK to the French Republic adopt the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on migration.

This has created an echo chamber that would have been inconceivable a ten years prior.

Central Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, integration – in a way that is determined by the pace of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," clarified a study author.

Other parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the strict platform of the radical right, despite research indicates that doing so drives the electorate to vote for the far right.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

The extent of information gathered showed that the impact of radical groups had been progressive and had increased with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "But if you hear this pessimistic narrative around immigration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by established parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Own Narratives

The research emphasized the necessity for established parties to carve out their own narratives, particularly on subjects such as migration and integration, instead of constantly following the radical right.

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