Which Window Are We Going Through Today? The Overton

"One day, when it's safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, everyone will have always been against this." - Omar El Akkad

The Overton window, or window of discourse, refers to the topics of discussion or debate that are considered to be politically acceptable to the majority of the population at a particular point in time. The window changes over time and can move, or broaden or narrow, and demonstrates "the slow evolution of societal values and norms."

The term is named after the American policy analyst and former senior vice president at Mackinac Center for Public Policy, Joseph Overton, who proposed that the political viability of an idea depends mainly on whether it falls within an acceptability range, rather than on the individual preferences of politicians using the term or concept. According to Overton, the window frames the range of policies that a politician may recommend without appearing too extreme, in order to gain or keep public office given the climate of public opinion at that particular time.

The political commentator Joshua Treviño defined the acceptance of public ideas under six categories: unthinkable, radical, acceptable, sensible, popular, and policy. [the above information and diagram below are sourced from Wikipedia]

After October 7, it became politically unacceptable not to condemn Hamas before speaking of Israel's actions in Gaza, or to question the actions of the state of Israel, or to even question Israel's existence. The phrase "from the river to sea" was deemed to be antisemitic, and despite Israel's actions in Gaza being considered a plausible genocide, Israel was considered to have the right to defend itself, regardless of its ongoing occupation of, and apartheid, in Palestine.

The author Omar El Akkad's book "One Day, Everyone Will Have Been Against This" is a good example of his understanding of the Overton Window. He knew that one day, when it's safe, when there's no personal downside to calling a thing what it is, when it's too late to hold anyone accountable, the Overton Window will have shifted, and everyone will have always been against this (genocide in Gaza).

You can read Omar's book here:

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad - Canongate Books

One Day, Everyone Will Have Always Been Against This by Omar El Akkad - hardback (9781837264186) published by Canongate. The debut non-fiction book from the award-winning novelist and journalist unpicks the hypocrisy and injustices of the West at a volatile and shocking time

CanongateOmar El Akkad

Dr Richard Denniss of The Australia Institute writes about political centrism and how politics in Australia is played out in the centre of the political spectrum which moves over time like with the Overton Window. Australians apparently don't like "extremism" resulting in centre left and centre right political parties tip-toeing around what they like to think is the "sensible centre", never brave enough to show leadership and implement the policy solutions that Australia needs.

Richard also notes that in the past, just like genocide in Palestine, it wasn't politically popular to advocate for the abolition of slavery and that 'extremism' was very much needed.

We need our political leaders to lead the general public through the Overton Window, by shifting the window and saying and doing what is the moral course of action to lead our country into the future, rather than saying and doing only what is deemed to be politically popular or palatable at a particular time. If we are not brave and "extreme" and do not challenge the popular "mainstream" "centrist" public opinion of the day, we will be going through the same Overton Window over and over again.

You can read more of Richard Denniss' writing here:

Friday essay: The dangers of centrism in a time of crisis

The science says we need to rush on climate change, but centrists like our PM are still telling us it’s not yet time to stop building new gas or coal mines.

The ConversationRichard Denniss

Dead Centre: How political pragmatism is killing us (Vantage Point Issue 2) - Store - The Australia Institute

In this essay, economist and Executive Director of The Australia Institute Richard Denniss, explores the contradiction between centrism and evidence that sits at the heart of democratic debate in Australia. He shows that when both major parties oppose reform then the position of the sensible centre becomes indistinguishable from blind support for keeping things as they are.

Australia Institute Press