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Established parties in power are increasingly enabling the radical right to set the political agenda, as per a recent study conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this trend has unwittingly benefited far-right parties by legitimising their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Study Drawing from Two Decades of Media Reporting

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an computerized content review of more than 520,000 articles from six German newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the far right shifted from marginal topics in the 1990s era to core themes like assimilation and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adjusted their communication in reaction.

This adjustment amplified the dissemination of these concepts and signaled to voters that such stances were legitimate.

Implications for Democracy

"Political discourse by established political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the radical right," stated a political sociologist involved in the research.

"This element has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was evident even when mainstream groups were condemning the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the expert commented. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this focus is crucial."

Mainstreaming Effect Across the Continent

While the study was centered around the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is probable to apply to countries across the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," explained another researcher. "The far right says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

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

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

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

In a recent discussion, a then German chancellor called for widespread expulsions and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable instances can be found across the continent, as elected officials from countries including the UK to the French Republic embrace the rhetoric of the radical right, especially on migration.

This has created an echo chamber that would have been unthinkable a ten years prior.

Core Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about societal topics – migration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Other political parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the strict platform of the radical right, even as studies indicates that this approach drives voters to vote for the far right.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The extent of data gathered showed that the impact of radical groups had been progressive and had grown over time.

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

Need for Mainstream Parties to Develop Their Own Discourses

The study highlighted the necessity for established political parties to develop their own discourses, particularly on subjects such as migration and assimilation, rather than constantly trailing after the far right.

"It's like a dance," said one researcher. "When the leader is far-right and you're responding to them, you lose the ability to choose which tune should be heard."