🔗 Share this article

Mainstream political parties are increasingly enabling the radical right to set the public discourse, as per a recent research conducted in Germany.

Researchers discovered that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped far-right parties by legitimising their ideas and disseminating them more widely.

Study Based on Two Decades of News Reporting

The results, published in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an computerized content review of more than 520,000 news pieces from six national newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers noted that as the far right shifted from fringe issues in the late 1990s to central themes like integration and migration, established parties increasingly adjusted their messaging in response.

This adaptation boosted the spread of these concepts and signaled to voters that such positions were acceptable.

Implications for Democratic Systems

"Political discourse by established political groups is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," explained a political sociologist participating in the study.

"This element has been underestimated," she added.

The impact 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 struggle for visibility, this attention is crucial."

Mainstreaming Effect Throughout Europe

While the study was focused on the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to apply to countries across Europe.

"This is frequently observed in European media," said another researcher. "Radical groups says something and everyone begins discussing it for several days."

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

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

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

In a recently published interview, a then German chancellor advocated widespread expulsions and urged them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar instances can be found across the continent, as politicians from countries including the United Kingdom to France embrace the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on migration.

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

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are talking about societal topics – migration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the whole idea of narrative control," explained a study author.

Other parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline agenda of the radical right, despite research indicates that doing so drives the electorate to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

The extent of information 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 researcher. "But if you hear this negative framing around immigration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by mainstream political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Requirement for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Discourses

The study emphasized the necessity for established political parties to carve out their own narratives, especially on subjects such as migration and integration, rather than constantly following the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," explained one researcher. "When the leader is far-right and you're reacting to it, you lose the ability to choose which music should be playing."