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Established parties in power are more and more allowing the radical right to set the political agenda, according to a new study conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has inadvertently helped radical parties by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them more widely.

Study Drawing from Over 20 Years of Media Reporting

The findings, published in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an computerized content review of over 520,000 news pieces from six national newspapers.

Capital-based scholars observed that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to central subjects like assimilation and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their messaging in response.

This adaptation amplified the dissemination of these concepts and signaled to voters that such positions were legitimate.

Implications for Democracy

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

"This factor has been overlooked," she added.

The effect was noticeable even when mainstream parties were criticising the far right. "They still receive focus," the expert commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is crucial."

Mainstreaming Effect Across the Continent

While the research was centered around the German context, this normalisation effect is probable to affect countries across Europe.

"This is frequently observed in German and British media," explained another researcher. "Radical groups makes a statement and everybody starts talking about 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 discussion, a former national leader called for widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar examples can be found across the continent, as elected officials from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to France embrace the language of the far right, particularly on migration.

This has formed an feedback loop that was unthinkable a decade ago.

Central Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are talking about societal topics – migration, assimilation – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of narrative control," clarified a study author.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the strict agenda of the far right, despite research indicates that this approach leads the electorate to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

The scope of information gathered showed that the influence of radical groups had been progressive and had increased over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "But if you encounter this pessimistic narrative around migration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by established parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Need for Established Parties to Develop Their Distinct Discourses

The study emphasized the need for established parties to carve out their distinct discourses, particularly on topics such as migration and assimilation, instead of constantly trailing after the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," explained one author. "When the leader is radical and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which music should be heard."