Choosing A Political Ideology: The Overton Window

Over time, policies change. What seemed impossible a few years ago is now the norm. Also, what years ago we considered normal in politics today has no logic. But how do these changes occur? To understand them, Joseph P. Overton developed a theory that used a window as a metaphor, the Overton window.

This theory helps to explain how certain ideas are legitimized before public opinion and how, based on this, a group of citizens adapts to those ideas.

Who was Overton?

Joseph P. Overton (January 4, 1960 – June 30, 2003) was Senior Vice President of the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Overton used the metaphor of the window with the intention of transmitting the idea of ​​a narrow and well-defined space through which we can look at some things and not others. Like any window, it is intentionally and strategically built by someone.

The Overton window is a political theory that uses a window to convey that the range of political ideas available to the public is limited. For each moment, this window includes certain policies that are acceptable and that are in relation to the climate of public opinion. If a politician recommends policies outside of that range, he will be considered too extreme.

The Overton Window

Overton’s idea was that policies are considered viable according to the convenience of politicians. Their individual interests would have nothing to do with it. Thus, it is about presenting ideas that, although at first they may seem unacceptable, can be defended. Over time, these ideas can find their way into the window frame and be accepted. Likewise, the opinion of the public will consider it possible and even acceptable when they enter the window.

Policies in public management are considered acceptable when they are convenient for politicians. Regardless of whether politicians prefer them or not. Therefore, the policies that remain inside and outside the window frame do not vary when ideas change between politicians, that range varies when politicians are elected by society.

How does the Overton window work?

The Overton window moves in a vertical range based on its acceptability. In the center of the window would be the ideas or policies that are considered necessary. Moving away from these are, both below and above, the popular ideas, the sensible, the acceptable, the radical and, finally, the unthinkable.

The Overton window can be moved according to the current interest and according to the possibility of being accepted by a majority. Its limits can be made wider or narrower, depending on the idea that you want to justify yourself to public opinion.

The case of immigration

Rejecting immigrants, not granting them asylum or leaving them without medical assistance are unacceptable ideas, right? A few years ago, any politician who proposed these measures would not enjoy popular acclaim. Therefore, few politicians ventured to proclaim them.

However, more and more are the politicians who proclaim them loudly today. What happened? The Overton window has changed. Policies that were unthinkable have become acceptable or even necessary for some.

In the United States, President Donald Trump has led people to support the removal of immigrants. An ideology that is also beginning to permeate in Europe. Anti-immigration speeches like those of Marine Le Pen in France or Viktor Orbán in Hungary are no longer in the minority.

Who can change the window boundaries?

Starting from the previous example, how have we come to reject our democratic and Christian values? Possibly we blame the politicians. However, it is very rare that politicians can modify the window. Politicians normally follow social changes. When citizens adopt a new idea, politicians begin to support it, seeking the interest of their party. In the end, politicians come to adopt those ideas and try to stand out as promoters.

On the other hand, politicians can also persuade society to change its ideas. These seek to educate the public so that the Overton window is narrowed or widened according to their preferences. These changes in the window can lead some political parties to be considered radical, even unacceptable, just as radio ideas can become moderate.

Strategies for moving the window often focus on changing the mindset of society by appealing to logic and facts, morality, emotions, and ultimately circumstances or misinformation. To avoid being manipulated, nothing better than knowing these techniques.