Ah! You’re asking about the Overton Window — specifically in the context of the UK, or more generally? I’ll explain carefully.
What is the Overton Window?
The Overton Window is a political theory describing the range of ideas that are considered acceptable or mainstream in public discourse at a given time.
- Named after Joseph P. Overton (1960–2003), an American policy analyst
- He suggested that any idea can be proposed, but only some are politically “viable” — the rest are seen as radical, unthinkable, or unacceptable.
Key points:
- Acceptable ideas = ideas politicians can publicly support without losing credibility.
- Radical ideas = too extreme for public support today.
- Window shifts = the range of acceptable ideas can change over time due to:
- Media framing
- Activism or advocacy
- Cultural shifts
- Crises or events
Example (UK context):
|
Topic |
1990s Acceptable |
Now Acceptable |
Previously Radical |
|
Cannabis legalisation |
Mostly illegal / taboo |
Limited medical use debated |
Full legalisation |
|
Same-sex marriage |
Controversial |
Legal (2014) |
Criminalised decades ago |
|
Universal basic income |
Fringe policy |
Debated in think-tanks |
Radical in politics |
So the Overton Window shows what is politically possible in a society without shocking the public.
If you want, I can make a UK-specific Overton Window map showing what’s mainstream, debated, and radical on hot issues today (2026).
Do you want me to do that?
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