European Far-Right Setting the Political Agenda, Research Finds

Mainstream parties in power are increasingly enabling the radical right to set the political agenda, as per a recent research carried out in Germany.

Academics discovered that this phenomenon has inadvertently benefited radical groups by legitimising their viewpoints and spreading them to a broader audience.

Study Based on Two Decades of News Reporting

The findings, released in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an automated text analysis of over 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen German newspapers.

Berlin-based scholars observed that as the far right moved from fringe issues in the late 1990s to core themes like assimilation and immigration, mainstream parties progressively adjusted their messaging in response.

This adaptation amplified the dissemination of these concepts and indicated to the electorate that such positions were acceptable.

Consequences for Democracy

"Political discourse by established parties is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," explained a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This element has been underestimated," she added.

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

Normalisation Phenomenon Throughout the Continent

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

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," said another co-author. "The far right says something and everybody begins discussing it for several days."

"Even if you're countering it, you're repeating it," he stated.

Hardening of Political Discourse

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

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

Comparable instances can be observed throughout Europe, as politicians from countries including the UK to the French Republic embrace the rhetoric of the radical right, particularly on immigration.

This has created an echo chamber that was unthinkable a ten years prior.

Central Issue: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are discussing societal topics – migration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the far right, that's the essence of agenda setting," clarified a researcher.

Other political parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline agenda of the radical right, even as studies indicates that doing so drives the electorate to vote for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The scope of data collected revealed that the impact of far-right groups had been gradual 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 hear this negative framing around migration frequently, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for example, by mainstream parties, then of course this storyline travels further."

Need for Mainstream Groups to Carve Out Their Own Discourses

The study emphasized the need for mainstream parties to carve out their own narratives, particularly on subjects such as immigration and assimilation, instead of constantly following the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one researcher. "When the leader is radical and you're responding to them, you lose the ability to choose which music should be playing."