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Mainstream parties in power are more and more allowing the radical right to set the political agenda, according to a new research carried out in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this trend has inadvertently benefited far-right groups by validating their ideas and spreading them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an computerized content review of more than 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen national newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the far right moved from fringe issues in the late 1990s to core subjects like assimilation and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their messaging in response.

This adaptation boosted the dissemination of these concepts and indicated to the electorate that such positions were acceptable.

Consequences for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by established parties is crucial in the electoral success of the far right," explained a political sociologist participating in the study.

"This factor has been overlooked," she added.

The impact was evident even when mainstream 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 struggle for visibility, this attention is key."

Normalisation Effect Across the Continent

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

"This is frequently observed in German and British media," explained another co-author. "The far right makes a statement and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Hardening of Political Discourse

At times, leaders have also hardened their language to match that of the radical right.

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

Comparable instances can be observed throughout the continent, as politicians from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to France embrace the language of the radical right, particularly on immigration.

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

Core Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing cultural issues – immigration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the essence of narrative control," clarified a study author.

Some parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the hardline platform of the far right, even as studies indicates that this approach leads voters to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The scope of information gathered revealed 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. "But if you encounter this pessimistic narrative around immigration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this narrative travels further."

Requirement for Mainstream Parties to Develop Their Distinct Narratives

The study highlighted the need for established parties to develop their distinct discourses, especially on subjects such as migration and assimilation, instead of continuously following the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one author. "If the conductor is radical and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which music should be playing."