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Mainstream political parties are increasingly enabling the radical 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 validating their ideas and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Over 20 Years of News Reporting

The results, published in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an computerized content review of more than 520,000 articles from six German newspapers.

Berlin-based scholars observed that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core themes like assimilation and immigration, mainstream political groups increasingly adjusted their messaging in reaction.

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

Implications for Democratic Systems

"Public communication by mainstream parties plays a central role in the electoral success of the radical right," stated a expert in political behavior participating in the study.

"This factor has been underestimated," she added.

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

Normalisation Effect Throughout Europe

While the study was centered around Germany, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to apply to countries throughout Europe.

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," said another researcher. "The far right says something and everybody begins discussing it for several days."

"Although you're opposing it, you're echoing it," he added.

Toughening of Political Discourse

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

In a recent discussion, a former German chancellor called for large-scale deportations and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable examples can be observed throughout the continent, as elected officials from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to the French Republic embrace the language of the far right, particularly on migration.

This has created an feedback loop that was inconceivable a decade ago.

Core Problem: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of narrative control," clarified a study author.

Some parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the hardline platform of the far right, despite studies suggests that this approach leads voters to vote for the radical faction.

Gradual Impact and Public Perception

The extent of data collected showed that the impact of far-right parties had been gradual and had increased with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a co-author. "However, when you encounter this pessimistic narrative around immigration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Established Parties to Develop Their Own Discourses

The study emphasized the necessity for established parties to develop their distinct discourses, particularly on topics such as migration and assimilation, instead of constantly trailing after the far right.

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