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Mainstream political parties are increasingly enabling the far right to dictate the public discourse, according to a recent research conducted in Germany.

Researchers found that this phenomenon has inadvertently helped radical groups by legitimising their viewpoints and spreading them to a broader audience.

Analysis Drawing from Two Decades of News Coverage

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an automated text analysis of more than 520,000 articles from six national newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to central subjects like assimilation and migration, mainstream parties progressively adjusted their communication in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democracy

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

"This element has been underestimated," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream groups were criticising the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Mainstreaming Effect Across the Continent

While the study was focused on the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is probable to affect nations throughout the European continent.

"You see this a lot in European media," explained another co-author. "The far right makes a statement and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

"Although you're countering it, you're echoing it," he stated.

Hardening of Political Discourse

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

In a recently published discussion, a then national leader called for widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable examples can be found across Europe, as politicians from countries including the United Kingdom to France embrace the language of the far right, particularly on immigration.

This has created an feedback loop that would have been unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are discussing cultural issues – migration, assimilation – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of narrative control," clarified a researcher.

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

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

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

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "However, when you encounter this pessimistic narrative around migration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline travels further."

Requirement for Mainstream Groups to Develop Their Own Narratives

The research highlighted the necessity for mainstream political parties to develop their distinct discourses, particularly on subjects such as immigration and assimilation, instead of continuously following the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," explained one researcher. "When the leader is far-right and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which tune should be playing."