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

Academics found that this trend has unwittingly benefited radical groups by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them more widely.

Analysis Based on Two Decades of Media Reporting

The findings, published in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an automated text analysis of more than 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen national publications.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to central subjects like assimilation and migration, established parties progressively adapted their messaging in response.

This adaptation amplified the dissemination of these ideas and signaled to voters that such positions were acceptable.

Implications for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by mainstream political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," stated a political sociologist participating in the study.

"This factor has been overlooked," she noted.

The impact was evident even when mainstream parties were criticising the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the expert remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a battle for attention, this focus is key."

Mainstreaming Effect Throughout Europe

While the research was focused on Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to affect countries across Europe.

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

"Although you're opposing it, you're echoing it," he added.

Hardening of Political Discourse

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

In a recent interview, a former German chancellor advocated large-scale deportations and pushed for them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be found across the continent, as politicians from countries ranging from the UK to the French Republic embrace the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on immigration.

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

Central Issue: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, integration – in a way that is determined by the pace of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Other parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the strict agenda of the radical right, even as studies indicates that doing so leads voters to cast their ballot for the radical faction.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

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

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," stated a researcher. "However, when you hear this pessimistic narrative around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Requirement for Established Groups to Develop Their Own Discourses

The study emphasized the need for established political parties to develop their distinct narratives, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, instead of constantly following the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," explained one author. "If the conductor is far-right and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which music should be heard."