Thread

Core Idea At any moment, only a subset of possible policies/ideas is seen as reasonable by the public, politicians, and the media. This subset is the “window.” Ideas inside the window are politically viable; ideas outside it are considered radical, fringe, or unthinkable.

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”

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).