🔗 Share this article

Mainstream political parties are increasingly allowing the radical right to dictate the political agenda, according to a recent research conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers discovered that this trend has inadvertently helped far-right parties by validating their ideas and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Analysis Drawing from Two Decades of Media Coverage

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an computerized content review of over 520,000 articles from a half-dozen German publications.

Berlin-based scholars noted that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the late 1990s to central themes like assimilation and migration, mainstream political groups increasingly adapted their messaging in response.

This adaptation boosted the dissemination of these concepts and indicated to the electorate that such stances were legitimate.

Consequences for Democracy

"Public discourse by established political groups is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," explained a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was evident even when conventional groups were criticising the far right. "They still receive focus," the expert commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is key."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Throughout Europe

While the research was centered around Germany, this mainstreaming phenomenon is probable to affect countries throughout Europe.

"You see this a lot in German and British news outlets," explained another co-author. "The far right says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

"Although you're countering it, you're echoing it," he stated.

Toughening of Political 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 national leader called for widespread deportations and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be observed throughout the continent, as elected officials from countries including the UK to France embrace the language of the radical right, particularly on migration.

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

Core Problem: Who Sets the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are discussing societal topics – immigration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Other political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline platform of the far right, even as research indicates that this approach leads the electorate to cast their ballot for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Public Perception

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

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "But if you encounter this negative framing around migration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Mainstream Groups to Develop Their Distinct Discourses

The study highlighted the need for mainstream political parties to develop their own narratives, particularly on subjects such as immigration and assimilation, instead of continuously trailing after the far right.

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