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Established parties in power are more and more enabling the far right to dictate the political agenda, according to a new research carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped far-right groups by legitimising their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of News Coverage

The findings, published in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an computerized content review of more than 520,000 articles from six national publications.

Berlin-based scholars noted that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the 1990s era to central subjects like integration and immigration, mainstream political groups progressively adapted their messaging in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by established parties is crucial in the voting performance of the radical right," explained a political sociologist involved in the research.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream parties were condemning the radical faction. "You're still giving them attention," the expert remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this focus is crucial."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Across Europe

While the study was focused on Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to affect countries across the European continent.

"You see this a lot in European media," said another researcher. "Radical groups says something and everyone begins discussing it for several days."

"Even if you're opposing it, you're echoing it," he added.

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

At times, leaders have also toughened their language to align with that of the far right.

In a recent interview, a then national leader advocated widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar examples can be found throughout Europe, as politicians from nations ranging from the UK to France adopt the language of the far right, particularly on immigration.

This has formed an feedback loop that was inconceivable a ten years prior.

Core Problem: Who Sets the Narrative?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are talking about cultural issues – immigration, integration – in a way that is determined by the pace of the far right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," clarified a researcher.

Some political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the strict platform of the radical right, despite studies indicates that this approach leads voters to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

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

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "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 instance, by mainstream political organizations, then of course this storyline travels further."

Need for Established Parties to Develop Their Own Discourses

The research emphasized the necessity for mainstream political parties to carve out their distinct narratives, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, rather than continuously trailing after the far right.

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