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Established political parties are more and more allowing the radical right to dictate the political agenda, according to a recent study conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Academics found that this phenomenon has inadvertently benefited far-right parties by validating their viewpoints and spreading them more widely.

Study Based on Two Decades of News Reporting

The results, published in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an computerized content review of more than 520,000 articles from a half-dozen German publications.

Capital-based researchers noted that as the far right moved from fringe issues in the 1990s era to core themes like assimilation and migration, mainstream political groups increasingly adjusted their communication in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Political discourse by established political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior involved in the study.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

The impact was evident even when conventional groups were criticising the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher commented. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is crucial."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Throughout the Continent

While the study was focused on Germany, this mainstreaming phenomenon is probable to apply to nations across Europe.

"You see this a lot in German and British media," said another co-author. "The far right says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

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

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

At times, leaders have also hardened their discourse to align with that of the radical right.

In a recent discussion, a former German chancellor advocated large-scale deportations and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar instances can be observed throughout Europe, as politicians from countries including the UK to France adopt the rhetoric of the radical right, particularly on migration.

This has created an echo chamber that would have been unthinkable a decade ago.

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are discussing cultural issues – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," clarified a researcher.

Some political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the strict platform of the far right, even as research suggests that this approach leads voters to vote for the radical faction.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

The extent of information collected revealed that the impact of far-right groups had been progressive and had grown over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "However, when you hear this pessimistic narrative around migration every second week, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Established Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Narratives

The study emphasized the necessity for mainstream political parties to carve out their own narratives, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, instead of continuously trailing after the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," said one researcher. "When the leader is far-right and you're responding to them, you lose the ability to choose which tune should be playing."