🔗 Share this article

Established parties in power are more and more allowing the far right to set the public discourse, according to a recent research conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers discovered that this trend has unwittingly benefited radical groups by validating their viewpoints and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Based on Two Decades of Media Coverage

The results, released in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an computerized content review of more than 520,000 news pieces from six German newspapers.

Berlin-based scholars noted that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the 1990s era to core subjects like assimilation and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adjusted their messaging in reaction.

This adjustment boosted the spread of these ideas and signaled to voters that such positions were legitimate.

Consequences for Democracy

"Political discourse by established parties plays a central role in the electoral success of the radical right," explained a expert in political behavior participating in the research.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The effect was evident even when conventional parties were condemning the far right. "They still receive focus," the researcher remarked. "Our core argument is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is crucial."

Normalisation Effect Across Europe

While the study was focused on Germany, this mainstreaming phenomenon is probable to apply to nations throughout the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," explained another researcher. "Radical groups says something and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Hardening of Public Discourse

At times, political figures have also hardened their discourse to align with that of the radical right.

In a recently published interview, a former national leader called for large-scale expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar examples can be found throughout the continent, as elected officials from countries including the United Kingdom to France embrace the language of the far right, especially on migration.

This has formed an echo chamber that would have been inconceivable a decade ago.

Core Problem: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the whole idea of narrative control," clarified a study author.

Some parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the strict platform of the far right, even as research suggests that doing so leads voters to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The extent of data collected showed that the influence of far-right groups had been progressive and had grown with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," stated a researcher. "However, when you hear this pessimistic narrative around migration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by established parties, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Requirement for Established Parties to Develop Their Distinct Discourses

The research emphasized the need for mainstream political parties to carve out their own narratives, particularly on subjects such as immigration and assimilation, 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 cannot decide which tune should be playing."