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Mainstream political parties are increasingly allowing the radical right to dictate the political agenda, according to a new study carried out in Germany.

Academics found that this phenomenon has unwittingly benefited far-right parties by validating their viewpoints and spreading them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Two Decades of News Reporting

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

Capital-based researchers noted that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core themes like integration and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their messaging in response.

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

Implications for Democracy

"Political discourse by mainstream parties is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," stated a political sociologist participating in the study.

"This element has been overlooked," she added.

The impact was noticeable even when mainstream parties were criticising the radical faction. "They still receive focus," the researcher commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is crucial."

Mainstreaming Effect Throughout the Continent

While the research was focused on the German context, this normalisation effect is likely to apply to countries across the European continent.

"You see this a lot in German and British media," said another co-author. "The far right says something and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

At times, political figures have also hardened their language to match that of the radical right.

In a recently published discussion, a then national leader advocated large-scale deportations and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar instances can be found throughout the continent, as elected officials from countries ranging from the United Kingdom to the French Republic embrace the language of the far right, particularly on immigration.

This has formed an feedback loop that was unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Issue: Who Sets the Narrative?

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

Other parties have gone one step further, attempting to emulate 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.

Progressive Influence and Voter Awareness

The extent of data collected 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. "But if you encounter this negative framing around immigration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for example, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline travels further."

Need for Established Parties to Develop Their Distinct Discourses

The research emphasized the necessity for mainstream parties to carve out their own discourses, especially on subjects such as migration and integration, rather than continuously following the radical right.

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