Overreach
Overreach refers to extending power, authority, resources, or influence beyond what is appropriate or legally permissible. It can involve governments, corporations, or individuals, and may result from ambition, misjudgment, or external pressure. Overreach frequently triggers backlash, legal challenges, or unintended consequences that undermine the intended aims.
In governance and law, overreach describes authorities expanding regulatory or coercive power beyond constitutional or statutory
In international affairs, military and strategic overreach—often termed imperial overstretch—occurs when a state pursues goals beyond
In organizations and projects, overreach appears as scope or mission creep, budget overruns, and expanding goals
Causes include hubris, flawed risk assessment, misaligned incentives, and weak accountability. Indicators are legal challenges, public
See also: imperial overstretch, mission creep, scope creep, checks and balances.