🔗 Share this article

Mainstream parties in power are more and more enabling the far right to set the political agenda, according to a new study conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

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

Analysis Drawing from Over 20 Years of Media Reporting

The findings, published in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an automated text analysis of more than 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen national publications.

Capital-based scholars observed that as the radical faction shifted from fringe issues in the late 1990s to central subjects like assimilation and immigration, established parties increasingly adjusted their messaging in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Political communication by established political groups is crucial in the voting performance of the radical right," explained a expert in political behavior participating in the research.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was noticeable even when mainstream parties were condemning the radical faction. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher commented. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this attention is key."

Normalisation Phenomenon Across the Continent

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

"You see this a lot in European media," 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 added.

Hardening of Political Rhetoric

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

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

Similar instances can be found across the continent, as elected officials from nations ranging from the UK to the French Republic embrace the rhetoric of the far right, especially on immigration.

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

Central Problem: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are talking about societal topics – immigration, integration – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Other parties have gone one step further, attempting to emulate the hardline platform of the far right, despite studies indicates that doing so drives the electorate to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Voter Awareness

The scope of data gathered showed that the influence of far-right groups had been gradual and had grown with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," commented a co-author. "However, when you encounter this pessimistic narrative around immigration frequently, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by established parties, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Narratives

The research highlighted the need for mainstream political parties to carve out their distinct discourses, particularly on subjects such as migration and assimilation, instead of continuously trailing after the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one researcher. "When the leader is radical and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which music should be heard."