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Mainstream parties in power are more and more allowing the far right to dictate the political agenda, according to a recent study conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has inadvertently benefited far-right parties by legitimising their viewpoints and spreading them to a broader audience.

Study Drawing from Over 20 Years of News Reporting

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, relied on an automated text analysis of over 520,000 articles from a half-dozen national publications.

Berlin-based scholars observed that as the radical faction moved from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core subjects like assimilation and migration, established parties increasingly adapted their communication in response.

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

Implications for Democracy

"Political discourse by mainstream political groups plays a central role in the electoral success of the far right," explained a political sociologist participating in the research.

"This element has been underestimated," she noted.

The effect was noticeable even when mainstream parties were criticising the radical faction. "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 Across Europe

While the study was centered around the German context, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to affect countries throughout Europe.

"You see this a lot in German and British news outlets," explained another co-author. "Radical groups says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

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

Hardening of Political Discourse

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

In a recently published discussion, a then German chancellor called for widespread expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Similar examples can be observed across the continent, as elected officials from nations including the UK to France adopt the rhetoric of the far right, especially on migration.

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

Central Problem: Who Sets the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are discussing societal topics – immigration, integration – in a way that is determined by the rhythm of the far right, that's the whole idea of narrative control," clarified a study author.

Some political parties have taken additional measures, attempting to emulate the hardline platform of the far right, despite studies suggests that this approach leads the electorate to cast their ballot for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Voter Awareness

The scope of data gathered showed that the impact of radical groups had been progressive and had grown with the passage of time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "But if you encounter this negative framing around immigration frequently, and it is being spread not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline gains more traction."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Narratives

The study highlighted the need for mainstream political parties to develop their distinct narratives, particularly on topics such as immigration and integration, rather than constantly trailing after the far right.

"It's like a dance," explained one researcher. "If the conductor is radical and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which tune should be heard."