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Established political parties are increasingly enabling the far right to dictate the political agenda, as per a recent research carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

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

Study Drawing from Over 20 Years of News Reporting

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an automated text analysis of over 520,000 articles from a half-dozen German publications.

Capital-based scholars observed that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the 1990s era to core subjects like integration and immigration, established parties increasingly adapted their messaging in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Public discourse by established political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," stated a political sociologist participating in the study.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream parties were condemning the far right. "They still receive focus," the expert commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this focus is key."

Normalisation Effect Throughout the Continent

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

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," explained another researcher. "The far right makes a statement and everyone starts talking about it for several days."

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

Hardening of Public Discourse

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

In a recently published interview, a then national leader advocated large-scale deportations and pushed for them to happen "more often and faster."

Comparable instances can be observed throughout Europe, as elected officials from countries ranging from the UK to the French Republic embrace the language of the radical right, particularly on immigration.

This has formed an echo chamber that was unthinkable a ten years prior.

Core Issue: Who Sets the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing cultural issues – migration, integration – in a way that is determined by the pace of the far right, that's the essence of narrative control," explained a study author.

Some parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the hardline platform of the radical right, even as research suggests that doing so leads the electorate to vote for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Public Perception

The extent of information collected showed that the influence of far-right groups had been progressive and had grown with the passage of time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "However, when you hear this negative framing around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for example, by mainstream political organizations, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Need for Established Parties to Develop Their Distinct Narratives

The research highlighted the need for established political parties to develop their distinct discourses, especially on topics such as migration and integration, rather than constantly following the radical right.

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