{
  "id": 7463026,
  "title": "How does unthinkable policy become inevitable? The ‘Overton window’ is one possible answer",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/how-does-unthinkable-policy-become-inevitable-the-overton-window-is",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T03:40:09.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Conversation AU",
    "slug": "the-conversation-au",
    "url": "https://theconversation.com/how-does-unthinkable-policy-become-inevitable-the-overton-window-is-one-possible-answer-289033"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The concept of the Overton window is a way to understand how policy can shift over time. The window represents the acceptable range of political discourse in society at any given moment. In the past, Australians owned many public enterprises and lived behind high tariff walls. Today, the policy landscape is vastly different, with few state-owned enterprises and a focus on renewable energy. The Overton window explains how previously unthinkable policies, like an emissions trading scheme, can become more acceptable and even inevitable. However, the window is not always a precise tool for explaining policy changes. Factors like issue salience, events, and advocacy campaigns also play a role in shifting the window. While the Overton window can help us make sense of policy shifts, it does not provide a complete explanation for how change happens.",
  "summary": "It was once deemed crazy to get rid of protective tariffs. Privatising state banks was inconceivable. Both are now commonplace, but how does this happen?",
  "key_points": [
    "Overton window explains shifting political discourse range",
    "Previously unthinkable policies become more acceptable over time",
    "Issue salience, events, advocacy also shift the window"
  ],
  "editors_take": "The concept of the Overton window reveals that policy shifts occur as societal norms and acceptable discourse evolve, making previously unthinkable ideas seem inevitable over time.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}