🔗 Share this article

Mainstream parties in power are increasingly allowing the far right to dictate the public discourse, according to a new research conducted in Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has unwittingly benefited radical parties by legitimising their ideas and spreading them more widely.

Study Drawing from Two Decades of News Coverage

The results, published in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an computerized content review of over 520,000 articles from six national newspapers.

Berlin-based scholars observed that as the far right moved from marginal topics in the 1990s era to central subjects like assimilation and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their communication in reaction.

This adaptation amplified the spread of these concepts and indicated to voters that such stances were acceptable.

Consequences for Democracy

"Public communication by mainstream political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the radical right," explained a political sociologist involved in the study.

"This element has been underestimated," she added.

The impact was evident even when conventional parties were condemning the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the expert commented. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this focus is crucial."

Mainstreaming Effect Across the Continent

While the research was centered around Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to affect nations across the European continent.

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

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

Hardening of Public Rhetoric

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

In a recently published discussion, a then German chancellor advocated large-scale expulsions and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Comparable instances can be found across the continent, as elected officials from countries ranging from the UK to France embrace the language of the far right, particularly on migration.

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

Central Problem: Who Sets the Agenda?

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

Some parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the strict agenda of the far right, despite research suggests that doing so drives the electorate to cast their ballot for the far right.

Progressive Impact and Public Perception

The extent of information collected showed that the impact of far-right parties had been gradual and had increased with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," stated a co-author. "But if you hear this negative framing around migration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by mainstream parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Requirement for Mainstream Parties to Develop Their Distinct Discourses

The study highlighted the necessity for established political parties to carve out their own discourses, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, rather than continuously following the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one author. "If the conductor is radical and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which music should be heard."