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Established political parties are increasingly enabling the radical right to set the public discourse, according to a new study conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Academics found that this phenomenon has inadvertently helped far-right parties by legitimising their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Study Based on Over 20 Years of News Reporting

The results, published in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an computerized content review of over 520,000 articles from six German publications.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the 1990s era to central themes like assimilation and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adjusted their messaging in reaction.

This adaptation boosted the spread of these concepts and signaled to the electorate that such positions were legitimate.

Implications for Democratic Systems

"Political discourse by mainstream parties is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior involved in the study.

"This element has been overlooked," she added.

The effect was evident even when mainstream parties were condemning the radical faction. "They still receive focus," the researcher remarked. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is crucial."

Mainstreaming Effect Throughout the Continent

While the study was centered around Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to affect nations throughout the European continent.

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," explained another co-author. "Radical groups says something and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

"Although you're countering it, you're repeating it," he added.

Toughening of Political Discourse

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

In a recent discussion, a former national leader advocated widespread expulsions and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable examples can be found throughout the continent, as politicians from nations including the United Kingdom to France adopt the language of the radical right, particularly on migration.

This has formed an echo chamber that would have been unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Problem: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are talking about societal topics – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Some parties have gone one step further, attempting to emulate the strict platform of the far right, despite research suggests that doing so drives voters to cast their ballot for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

The extent of information gathered revealed that the impact of radical groups had been gradual and had grown with the passage of time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," commented a researcher. "However, when you hear this negative framing around migration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for example, by established parties, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Need for Established Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Discourses

The study emphasized the need for mainstream political parties to develop their distinct discourses, especially on topics such as migration and assimilation, instead of constantly following the radical right.

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