The Overton Window is like a fickle friend. It tells you what's in and what's out, but it never quite keeps the same company. Populist movements, on the other hand, are like the obnoxious cousin who crashes your party and eats all your dip. They may not be popular, but they're hard to ignore.
The Overton Window, for those who don't know, is a concept in political science that refers to the range of policies and ideas that are considered acceptable in a given society. It's like a window that frames the conversation, defining what's within the bounds of reasonable debate and what's not. For example, a few decades ago, gay marriage was outside the Overton Window. Today, it's within the realm of possibility.
Populist movements, on the other hand, are like a bull in a china shop. They don't care about the window, the china, or anything else that gets in their way. They're focused on their own agenda, and they're willing to use any means necessary to achieve it.
The problem is, when populism becomes mainstream, it can shift the Overton Window. Suddenly, policies and ideas that were once considered extreme are now on the table. It's like inviting the obnoxious cousin to stay for the weekend and finding out that he's taken over your living room.
The danger is that once the Overton Window has shifted, it's hard to shift it back. What was once considered extreme is now considered normal, and what was once normal is now considered extreme. This can lead to a cycle of radicalization, where each side tries to outdo the other in an attempt to stay within the bounds of the new window.
So, what's the solution? It's simple: be aware of the window, and don't let the obnoxious cousin take over your living room. Stay true to your values, and don't let populism shift the conversation. Because when the window shifts, we all lose.
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Text Prompt: Write a short, relevant and witty essay on the Overton Window and its relation to populist movements.
Illustration Prompt: A bull with a clumsy expression and large horns standing in the middle of a fancy china shop, surrounded by shattered porcelain and broken objects. The bull looks surprised and out of place, while the shop owner looks horrified and angry.
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ChatGPT & João Pinho (Find me on LinkedIn)
joao.pinho@hey.com