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Established political parties are more and more enabling the far right to set the public discourse, according to a recent study carried out in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers found that this phenomenon has unwittingly helped far-right groups by legitimising their viewpoints and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Analysis Drawing from Two Decades of News Coverage

The results, published in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an computerized content review of more than 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen national publications.

Capital-based researchers noted that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core subjects like integration and immigration, mainstream political groups progressively adjusted their messaging in response.

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

Consequences for Democracy

"Public communication by mainstream parties plays a central role in the voting performance of the radical right," explained a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This factor has been underestimated," she noted.

The impact was evident even when mainstream groups were criticising the radical faction. "They still receive focus," the expert remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this attention is key."

Normalisation Effect Across Europe

While the study was centered around Germany, this normalisation effect is probable to affect countries throughout Europe.

"This is frequently observed in European news outlets," said another researcher. "Radical groups makes a statement and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Toughening of Public Rhetoric

At times, political figures have also toughened their language to match that of the far right.

In a recent discussion, a former national leader called for widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be observed across the continent, as politicians from nations ranging from the UK to France embrace the rhetoric of the radical right, especially on immigration.

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

Core Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

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

Other parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the hardline agenda of the radical right, even as studies suggests that this approach leads the electorate to vote for the far right.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The extent of data gathered showed that the impact of far-right parties had been gradual and had increased over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a co-author. "However, when you encounter this negative framing around migration 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 narrative travels further."

Need for Established Parties to Develop Their Own Narratives

The study highlighted the necessity for mainstream political parties to develop their distinct narratives, especially on subjects such as immigration and integration, instead of continuously trailing after the far right.

"It's like a dance," said one researcher. "When the leader is radical and you're reacting to it, you cannot decide which music should be heard."