🔗 Share this article

Established parties in power are more and more enabling the far right to set the political agenda, as per a new research conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this trend has unwittingly benefited radical groups by legitimising their ideas and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Two Decades of News Reporting

The findings, published in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an computerized content review of over 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen German newspapers.

Capital-based scholars noted that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to central subjects like integration and migration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their messaging in response.

This adaptation amplified the dissemination of these ideas and signaled to the electorate that such stances were legitimate.

Implications for Democracy

"Political communication by mainstream parties is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," explained a expert in political behavior participating in the research.

"This element has been underestimated," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when conventional groups were condemning the radical faction. "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."

Normalisation Effect Throughout Europe

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

"You see this a lot in German and British news outlets," explained another co-author. "Radical groups makes a statement and everyone starts talking about it for several days."

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

Hardening of Public Discourse

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

In a recently published interview, a former German chancellor called for widespread deportations and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar examples can be found across the continent, as politicians from nations ranging from the United Kingdom to France embrace the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on immigration.

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

Core Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," clarified a researcher.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the strict platform of the radical right, even as research indicates that this approach leads voters to vote for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

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

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a co-author. "However, when you hear this negative framing around immigration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for example, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Established Groups to Carve Out Their Distinct Discourses

The research highlighted the necessity for mainstream parties to carve out their distinct discourses, especially on topics such as immigration and integration, instead of continuously following the far right.

"It's like a dance," said one author. "When the leader is radical and you're reacting to it, you lose the ability to choose which music should be playing."