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Established parties in power are increasingly enabling the radical right to set the public discourse, as per a new research conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Academics found that this trend has inadvertently helped far-right groups by legitimising their ideas and spreading them to a broader audience.

Analysis Based on Two Decades of Media Coverage

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an automated text analysis of more than 520,000 articles from six German newspapers.

Capital-based researchers observed that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core subjects like integration and migration, established political groups increasingly adapted their communication in response.

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

Implications for Democracy

"Public discourse by mainstream parties is crucial in the electoral success of the radical right," explained a expert in political behavior involved in the study.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was noticeable even when mainstream groups were condemning the radical faction. "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."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Across Europe

While the study was centered around the German context, this normalisation effect is probable to affect countries across the European continent.

"You see this a lot in European media," said another co-author. "Radical groups makes a statement and everyone begins discussing it for one week."

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

Toughening of Public Rhetoric

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

In a recent discussion, a former German chancellor called for widespread deportations and pushed for them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be observed across Europe, as elected officials from countries including the UK to the French Republic embrace the language of the radical right, particularly on immigration.

This has created an feedback loop that would have been inconceivable a decade ago.

Core Problem: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the far right, that's the whole idea of narrative control," explained a researcher.

Other political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the strict agenda of the far right, despite research indicates that doing so leads voters to vote for the radical faction.

Gradual Influence and Voter Awareness

The extent of information collected revealed that the impact of radical groups had been gradual and had increased over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented a researcher. "However, when you hear this negative framing around immigration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Established Groups to Develop Their Distinct Narratives

The research highlighted the need for mainstream parties to carve out their distinct discourses, especially on topics such as migration and integration, instead of constantly trailing after the radical right.

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