As the BBC prepares to give extreme right British National Party (BNP) leader Nick Griffin a seat on its most prestigious political programme, Radio Netherlands Worldwide explores the implications of extreme political views and how broadcasters should treat them.

When Nick Griffin takes his place on the panel of Question Time tonight, it will be the first time British broadcaster BBC has given significant airtime to a politician representing the extreme right. 
Media analyst and former advisor to German chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, Professor Jo Groebel, told Radio Netherlands Worldwide that it’s a tough decision, with two clear schools of thought.

Listen to the Newsline interview.

Internet platform
Professor Groebel argues that in the age of the internet, where anyone can have access to mass platforms, it is better to offer groups with this kind of extreme ideology limited access. This way the arguments they put forward can be dealt with and countered in an intelligently moderated way, thus weakening their position. Stifling their views can lead to increased popularity, he says, precisely because the flaws in their arguments have not been properly exposed.
 
Europe-wide dilemma
It’s not the first time European broadcasters have faced the dilemma of how to deal with right wing views, and the political parties that represent them.  In recent years there has been Filip de Winter in Belgium, Jean-Marie Le Pen in France, and Jörg Haider in Austria. And of course, in the Netherlands, there’s the ongoing story of populist Freedom Party leader, Geert Wilders.
 
Dutch example
Professor Groebel says that in each case, though the spectrum of their right wing views has been different, these party representatives have been given the chance to argue their case, in a way that has not threatened the democracy of the country in which they live. He cites the Netherlands as a good example of how to deal with the issue.

“I would tend to say the good old Dutch example where extreme views have the possibility to be exposed so you can deal with them  openly in a democratic and public debate is much better than to oppress them. The traditional Dutch approach was pretty good.”
 
Risky thrills
It’s a risk. As soon as you promote extreme attitudes you create more attention for those views. Professor Groebel says the media also plays its part, being more interested in risky, thrilling stories than moderate ones. On the other hand, he says, to suppress them completely is dangerous because you then have a movement that you cannot control publicly.  In the end, people have to be trusted to weigh up their politicians, says Mr Groebel. “A strong democracy does not necessarily have to fear more extreme views if they are placed in context and surrounded by good moderation.”

Due impartiality
The BNP won two seats in the European elections earlier this year and holds seats on a number of local councils. Justifying its decision, the BBC says that as a publicly funded broadcaster, it has an obligation to offer all political parties "due impartiality". Fringe parties in the US often complain about the lack of media attention – but broadcasters there are free to follow their own political agendas according to Richard Kaplar of the American Media Institute.

“Historically it’s been fairly unacceptable to treat the real fringe parties and fringe candidates in the same way as the major candidates. Generally the media perform a sort of self-screening process and limit themselves to pretty much covering the major candidates. The media in this country are not under any obligation to give equal coverage to anyone who shows up and asks for it. So, they usually go away unsatisfied."

 
BNP leader Nick Griffin will appear on BBC One’s Question Time on Thursday at 21.35 UTC

Photo: Wikipedia