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Established parties in power are more and more allowing the far right to dictate the public discourse, as per a new study carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Academics found that this trend has unwittingly benefited radical parties by legitimising their ideas and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The findings, released in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an automated text analysis of over 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen German publications.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core themes like integration and migration, established parties increasingly adjusted their communication in response.

This adaptation boosted the dissemination of these ideas and indicated to the electorate that such stances were legitimate.

Implications for Democracy

"Public communication by established parties is crucial in the electoral success of the far right," explained a expert in political behavior involved in the study.

"This element has been underestimated," she added.

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

Normalisation Phenomenon Across Europe

While the research was focused on the German context, this normalisation effect is likely to affect countries throughout the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in European media," explained another co-author. "Radical groups says something and everyone begins discussing it for one week."

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

Toughening of Public Discourse

At certain points, leaders have also hardened their discourse to align with that of the far right.

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

Comparable instances can be observed throughout the continent, as elected officials from countries ranging from the UK to the French Republic embrace the rhetoric of the radical right, particularly on immigration.

This has created an feedback loop that would have been inconceivable a ten years prior.

Central Problem: Who Sets the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing cultural issues – migration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the far right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," clarified a study author.

Some parties have taken additional measures, seeking to copy the hardline agenda of the radical right, even as research indicates that doing so drives the electorate to vote for the far right.

Progressive Impact and Public Perception

The scope of data gathered revealed that the influence of far-right parties had been gradual and had grown with the passage of time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "However, when you encounter this negative framing around immigration frequently, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by established parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Requirement for Mainstream Groups to Develop Their Own Narratives

The research highlighted the need for established parties to develop their own discourses, especially on subjects such as immigration and integration, rather than continuously following the far right.

"It resembles a choreography," said one author. "When the leader is radical and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which music should be playing."