European Right-Wing Setting the Public Agenda, Study Finds

Established political parties are more and more allowing the radical right to set the political agenda, according to a recent study conducted in Germany.

Researchers found that this trend has inadvertently helped far-right groups by validating their viewpoints and spreading them more widely.

Study Based on Over 20 Years of Media Coverage

The findings, published in the academic journal on political studies, utilized an computerized content review of over 520,000 news pieces from a half-dozen German publications.

Berlin-based researchers observed that as the radical faction moved from fringe issues in the 1990s era to central subjects like assimilation and migration, mainstream political groups increasingly adapted their communication in response.

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

Implications for Democratic Systems

"Public communication by established parties plays a central role in the electoral success of the radical right," stated a political sociologist participating in the research.

"This factor has been underestimated," she noted.

The impact was noticeable even when conventional parties were criticising the far right. "You're still giving them attention," the researcher remarked. "The main point is that because we live in such a struggle for visibility, this focus is key."

Mainstreaming Phenomenon Across Europe

While the research was centered around the German context, this normalisation effect is probable to affect nations across Europe.

"You see this a lot in German and British news outlets," said another co-author. "Radical groups makes a statement and everyone starts talking about it for one week."

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

Hardening of Public Rhetoric

At certain points, political figures have also toughened their discourse to align with that of the radical right.

In a recent discussion, a former German chancellor called for large-scale expulsions and pushed for them to happen "more frequently and rapidly."

Comparable examples can be found across the continent, as elected officials from nations ranging from the UK to France adopt the rhetoric of the far right, particularly on immigration.

This has formed an feedback loop that would have been unthinkable a ten years prior.

Core Problem: Who Dictates the Agenda?

"{If you're a centrist party and you are discussing societal topics – immigration, integration – in a way that is dictated by the pace of the radical right, that's the whole idea of agenda setting," explained a study author.

Other parties have gone one step further, attempting to emulate the hardline platform of the far right, despite research suggests that doing so drives voters to cast their ballot for the far right.

Gradual Impact and Public Perception

The extent of information collected showed that the influence of far-right parties had been gradual and had increased with the passage of time.

"Voter awareness doesn't change from day to day," commented a co-author. "But if you encounter this pessimistic narrative around immigration frequently, and it is being spread not only by radical groups but also, for instance, by established political organizations, then of course this storyline travels further."

Need for Mainstream Parties to Carve Out Their Own Narratives

The research highlighted the need for mainstream political parties to carve out their own discourses, particularly on topics such as immigration and integration, instead of constantly trailing after the far right.

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