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Established parties in power are more and more enabling the far right to set the public discourse, according to a recent study carried out in Germany.

Researchers found that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped far-right groups by legitimising their ideas and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Study Drawing from Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an computerized content review of over 520,000 news pieces from six national newspapers.

Capital-based researchers noted that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core themes like integration and migration, mainstream political groups progressively adapted their messaging in reaction.

This adjustment amplified the dissemination of these ideas and indicated to voters that such stances were acceptable.

Consequences for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by mainstream parties plays a central role in the voting performance of the radical right," explained a political sociologist involved in the research.

"This element has been underestimated," she noted.

The impact was evident even when mainstream parties were condemning the far right. "They still receive focus," the researcher commented. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Normalisation Effect Across the Continent

While the study was focused on Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to apply to countries across Europe.

"This is frequently observed in European news outlets," said another co-author. "Radical groups says something and everyone begins discussing it for one week."

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

Toughening of Public Discourse

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

In a recently published interview, a then German chancellor advocated widespread deportations and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable examples can be found across the continent, as elected officials from countries including the UK to the French Republic embrace the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on immigration.

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

Central Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing cultural issues – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Some parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the strict agenda of the far right, even as studies indicates that doing so leads voters to cast their ballot for the far right.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

The extent of data collected showed that the impact of far-right groups had been gradual and had grown over time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "But if you hear this pessimistic narrative around immigration 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."

Requirement for Established Groups to Carve Out Their Distinct Discourses

The study emphasized the necessity for mainstream parties to develop their distinct discourses, especially on subjects such as migration and integration, rather than constantly trailing after the far right.

"It's like a dance," explained one researcher. "If the conductor is far-right and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which music should be heard."