Is there an English word for an idea or policy that receives widespread acceptance not due to approval, but because opposing it requires immense effort or risk?
For example, a company's CEO introduces a diversity program which will clearly disadvantage all of its current employees, but no one objects to it in fear of the being called racist.
What can one call such a policy?
Best Answer
In politics, the idea could be called a third rail.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Third_rail_of_politics
Or sacred cow
https://www.lexico.com/definition/sacred_cow
Note: the example you gave in the OP might be something different: Doing something because it is right even though it is unpopular. That is sort of the opposite of what I am answering, which is not doing something because the opposite is popular.