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

Researchers discovered that this trend has inadvertently helped far-right parties by validating their viewpoints and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Drawing from Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The findings, published in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an computerized content review of over 520,000 articles from six national newspapers.

Berlin-based researchers noted that as the far right shifted from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core subjects like integration and migration, established parties progressively adapted their messaging in response.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Political communication by established political groups plays a central role in the voting performance of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This element has been underestimated," she noted.

The effect was noticeable even when mainstream parties were criticising the far right. "They still receive focus," the researcher remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this attention is key."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Across Europe

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

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," said another researcher. "Radical groups makes a statement and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

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

Hardening of Public Discourse

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

In a recent interview, a former German chancellor called for widespread deportations and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be found across Europe, as elected officials from countries including the United Kingdom to the French Republic adopt the language of the radical right, especially on immigration.

This has formed an echo chamber that would have been unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a centrist political group and you are talking about cultural issues – migration, assimilation – in a way that is determined by the pace of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Some political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline platform of the far right, despite studies suggests that doing so leads the electorate to vote for the far right.

Gradual Influence and Public Perception

The scope of information gathered revealed that the impact of far-right parties had been gradual and had grown over time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from day to day," stated a co-author. "However, when you hear this negative framing around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Requirement for Established Groups to Develop Their Own Narratives

The research highlighted the necessity for established parties to carve out their distinct narratives, particularly on subjects such as migration and assimilation, instead of continuously following the radical right.

"It resembles a choreography," said one researcher. "If the conductor is far-right and you're responding to them, you lose the ability to choose which music should be playing."