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Mainstream parties in power are more and more allowing the far right to set the political agenda, according to a recent research carried out in Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has unwittingly helped radical groups by validating their viewpoints and disseminating them to a broader audience.

Study Drawing from Two Decades of News Reporting

The findings, released in the European Journal of Political Research, relied on an computerized content review of more than 520,000 articles from a half-dozen German newspapers.

Capital-based researchers observed that as the radical faction shifted from marginal topics in the late 1990s to core subjects like integration and immigration, mainstream parties increasingly adjusted their communication in reaction.

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

Consequences for Democratic Systems

"Political communication by mainstream parties plays a central role in the voting performance of the far right," stated a expert in political behavior involved in the study.

"This factor has been overlooked," she added.

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

Normalisation Effect Throughout Europe

While the study was centered around Germany, this mainstreaming phenomenon is likely to apply to countries across the European continent.

"This is frequently observed in German and British news outlets," explained another researcher. "Radical groups says something and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Toughening of Political Discourse

At certain points, political figures have also hardened their discourse to match that of the far right.

In a recently published interview, a then national leader advocated large-scale expulsions and urged them to happen "more often and faster."

Similar examples can be found across the continent, as politicians from countries including the UK to France adopt the language of the radical right, especially on immigration.

This has created an echo chamber that would have been inconceivable a ten years prior.

Core Problem: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a moderate political group and you are discussing cultural issues – migration, assimilation – in a way that is dictated by the rhythm of the radical right, that's the essence of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Other parties have gone one step further, seeking to copy the hardline agenda of the radical right, despite studies suggests that doing so leads the electorate to vote for the far right.

Gradual Influence and Voter Awareness

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

"Public perception doesn't change from day to day," commented a researcher. "But if you hear this pessimistic narrative around immigration every second week, and it is being disseminated not only by far-right parties but also, for instance, by mainstream parties, then of course this narrative travels further."

Need for Mainstream Groups to Develop Their Own Narratives

The research emphasized the necessity for established parties to develop their own narratives, particularly on topics such as migration and integration, instead of constantly following the radical right.

"It resembles a choreography," said one researcher. "If the conductor is far-right and you're responding to them, you cannot decide which tune should be playing."