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Mainstream parties in power are more and more enabling the radical right to dictate the political agenda, according to a new study conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped far-right parties by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them more widely.

Study Drawing from Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The results, published in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an computerized content review of more than 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen German publications.

Capital-based researchers noted that as the radical faction moved from fringe issues in the late 1990s to core subjects like integration and immigration, mainstream political groups progressively adapted their messaging in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democratic Systems

"Public communication by mainstream political groups is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," explained a political sociologist participating in the study.

"This factor has been underestimated," she added.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream parties were condemning the radical faction. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher commented. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Normalisation Phenomenon Across the Continent

While the research was centered around the German context, this normalisation effect is probable to apply to countries throughout Europe.

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," explained another researcher. "Radical groups makes a statement and everybody starts talking about it for one week."

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

Hardening of Public Rhetoric

At certain points, political figures have also toughened their discourse to match that of the radical right.

In a recent interview, a then German chancellor advocated widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar instances can be observed throughout Europe, as elected officials from nations including the UK to France adopt the language of the radical right, particularly on migration.

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

Core Problem: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are talking about societal topics – migration, integration – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," clarified a study author.

Other political parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the hardline agenda of the radical right, even as research indicates that this approach leads voters to vote for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

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

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," stated a researcher. "However, when you encounter this negative framing around migration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Own Discourses

The research emphasized the need for mainstream political parties to develop their own narratives, especially on subjects such as immigration and assimilation, instead of continuously trailing after the radical right.

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