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The Overton window (also called the window of discourse) is a concept in political science that describes the range of policies or ideas that are considered politically acceptable or mainstream at a given time in a society.

Origin…

It was named after Joseph Overton, a policy analyst at the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, who developed the idea in the 1990s. Overton originally used it to explain to donors and policymakers why some libertarian ideas were “unthinkable” and how to make them thinkable over time.

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A M McGee 1mo ago

What Moves the Window?

The window is not fixed; it can shift left, right, up, or down over time. Things that stretch or move it include:

• Crises (wars, pandemics, economic collapses)

• Social movements and activism

• Technological change

• Demographic shifts

• Charismatic politicians or intellectuals who deliberately push boundaries

• Media and cultural changes (movies, books, memes, social media)

• Think tanks and advocacy groups that work for decades to make an idea go from “unthinkable” → “radical” → “acceptable” → “policy”

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A M McGee 1mo ago

Strategic Use…

Politicians and activists often use the Overton window deliberately:

• “Door-opening” strategy: Push a more extreme position to make your real goal look moderate by comparison (the “anchor” effect).

• “Window-moving” strategy: Work for decades to normalize an idea (e.g., think tanks funding research, media appearances, model legislation).

• The “Overton paradox”: Sometimes the window moves so fast that yesterday’s radical idea becomes today’s consensus (or vice versa).