European Far-Right Dictating the Public Agenda, Research Finds

Established political parties are increasingly enabling the far right to set the public discourse, according to a recent research conducted in Germany.

Academics found that this phenomenon has unwittingly benefited radical parties by validating their viewpoints and spreading them more widely.

Analysis Based on Two Decades of News Coverage

The results, published in the European Journal of Political Research, utilized an computerized content review of over 520,000 news pieces from six national newspapers.

Capital-based researchers observed that as the far right moved from fringe issues in the late 1990s to central themes like assimilation and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adapted their communication in response.

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

Implications for Democracy

"Public communication by mainstream parties is crucial in the voting performance of the far right," explained a expert in political behavior involved in the research.

"This factor has been underestimated," she added.

The impact was noticeable even when conventional groups 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 struggle for visibility, this focus is key."

Normalisation Phenomenon Across the Continent

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

"You see this a lot in European news outlets," explained another co-author. "The far right says something and everybody starts talking about it for several days."

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

Toughening of Political Rhetoric

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

In a recently published discussion, a then German chancellor called for large-scale deportations and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable instances can be observed across Europe, as elected officials from nations including the UK to the French Republic embrace the language of the far right, particularly on immigration.

This has created an feedback loop that was inconceivable a decade ago.

Core Issue: Who Dictates the Narrative?

"{If you're a moderate party and you are talking about societal topics – migration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a researcher.

Some parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the strict agenda of the far right, even as studies suggests that this approach leads the electorate to vote for the radical faction.

Progressive Influence and Public Perception

The scope of data collected showed that the influence of far-right groups had been progressive and had grown over time.

"Public perception doesn't change from one day to another," stated a co-author. "But if you encounter this negative framing around immigration every second week, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by mainstream political organizations, then of course this narrative gains more traction."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Distinct Discourses

The study highlighted the necessity for mainstream parties to carve out their own narratives, especially on subjects such as migration and integration, rather than continuously trailing after the radical right.

"It's like a dance," explained one author. "When the leader is radical and you're reacting to it, you lose the ability to choose which music should be heard."