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Mainstream parties in power are more and more allowing the far right to set the public discourse, according to a recent research carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Academics discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly benefited radical parties by legitimising their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Based on Over 20 Years of Media Reporting

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

Berlin-based scholars observed that as the far right shifted from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core themes like integration and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adjusted their communication in response.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Public communication by mainstream parties plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," explained a political sociologist involved in the research.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream groups were condemning the radical faction. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher remarked. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this attention is key."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Throughout the Continent

While the study was focused on Germany, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to affect nations across the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," said another researcher. "The far right says something and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

"Although you're countering it, you're repeating it," he added.

Hardening of Public Discourse

At certain points, leaders have also hardened their discourse to match that of the far right.

In a recent discussion, a former national leader called for large-scale expulsions and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be observed across the continent, as politicians from countries including the UK to France embrace the rhetoric of the far right, especially on migration.

This has created an echo chamber that was unthinkable a decade ago.

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Narrative?

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

Other parties have gone one step further, attempting to emulate the hardline agenda of the radical right, even as studies suggests that doing so leads the electorate to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Progressive Impact and Public Perception

The scope of data collected revealed that the impact of radical groups had been progressive and had increased with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented a researcher. "But if you hear this pessimistic narrative around migration every second week, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline travels further."

Need for Established Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Narratives

The research emphasized the need for established political parties to develop their distinct narratives, especially on topics such as migration and assimilation, instead of continuously trailing after the radical right.

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