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Realpolitik

Realpolitik (German: [ʁeˈaːlpoliˌtiːk] ; from German real 'realistic, practical, actual', and Politik 'politics') is the approach of conducting diplomatic or political policies based primarily on considerations of given circumstances and factors, rather than strictly following ideological, moral, or ethical premises. In this respect, it shares aspects of its philosophical approach with those of realism and pragmatism. It is often simply referred to as pragmatism in politics, e.g. "pursuing pragmatic policies" or "realistic policies".

For other uses, see Realpolitik (disambiguation).

While generally used as a positive or neutral term, Realpolitik has been also used pejoratively to imply political policies that are perceived as being coercive, amoral, or Machiavellian.[1] Prominent proponents of Realpolitik include Otto von Bismarck, Henry Kissinger, George F. Kennan, Zbigniew Brzezinski, Hans-Dietrich Genscher, Deng Xiaoping, Charles de Gaulle, and Lee Kuan Yew.[2] The opposite of Realpolitik is Idealpolitik.

Political realism in international relations[edit]

Whereas Realpolitik refers to political practice, the concept of political realism in international relations refers to a theoretical framework aimed at offering explanations for events in the international relations domain. The theory of political realism proceeds from the assumption that states—as actors in the international arena—pursue their interests by practicing Realpolitik. Conversely, Realpolitik can be described as the exercise of policies that are in line with accepted theories of political realism. In either case, the working hypothesis is generally that policy is chiefly based on the pursuit, possession, and application of power (see also power politics). However, some international relations realists, such as Kenneth Waltz, have viewed state policy in terms of the pursuit of survival or security, rather than the pursuit of power for its own sake.

a Chinese military strategist who wrote The Art of War that foreshadowed elements of Realpolitik

Sun Tzu

a Greek historian who wrote the History of the Peloponnesian War and is cited as an intellectual forebear of Realpolitik

Thucydides

(or Kautilya), an early Indian statesman and writer on the Arthashastra

Chanakya

an Arab historiographer, historian and one of the founding fathers of modern historiography, author of Muqaddimah, a universal history of time

Ibn Khaldun

a Chinese scholar who theorised Legalism and who served in the court of the King of Qin—later unifier of China ending the Warring States period. His theory centres on the Two Handles (about penalty and rewards as tools of governance). He theorised about a neutral, manipulative ruler who would act as head of state while secretly controlling the executive through his ministers—the ones to take real responsibility for any policy.

Han Fei

an Italian political philosopher who wrote Il Principe (The Prince) in which he held that the sole aim of a prince (politician) was to seek power, regardless of religious or ethical considerations. There is scholarly debate about the nature and morality of his advice.

Niccolò Machiavelli

a French statesman who overcame domestic factionalism and guided France to a position of dominance in foreign affairs

Cardinal Richelieu

an English philosopher who wrote Leviathan in which he stated the state of nature was prone to a "war of all against all"

Thomas Hobbes

a Prussian monarch who transformed Prussia into a great European power through warfare and diplomacy

Frederick the Great

a French diplomat who guided France and Europe through a variety of political systems

Charles Maurice de Talleyrand-Périgord

a Koblenz-born Austrian statesman opposed to political revolution

Prince Klemens Wenzel von Metternich

an 18–19th century Prussian general and military strategist who wrote On War (Vom Kriege)

Carl von Clausewitz

an Italian statesman who diplomatically managed to maneuver the Kingdom of Sardinia to become a new great power in Europe, controlling a nearly united Italy that was five times as large as the Kingdom of Sardinia had been before he came to power

Camillo Benso of Cavour

a Prussian statesman who coined the term balance of power. Balancing power means keeping the peace and careful Realpolitik practitioners try to avoid arms races.

Otto von Bismarck

20th century proponents of political realism include , Henry Kissinger, George F. Kennan as well as politicians such as Charles de Gaulle and Lee Kuan Yew.

Hans Morgenthau

's Three Worlds Theory is described as Realpolitik by his critics, including Enver Hoxha, who argue that it was not based on a strong ideological grounding and used only to justify rapport with the West.

Mao Zedong

Consequentialism

Deterrence theory

Monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force

Netpolitik

Noopolitik

Power politics

Tonyukuk

Weltpolitik

John Bew: , The National Interest, 2014

"The Real Origins of Realpolitik"

John Bew: , The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress, April 10, 2014. Accessed July 29, 2014.

"Real Realpolitik: A History"

David Robertson: The Routledge Dictionary of Politics. Routledge 2004.  978-0-415-32377-2, p. 420 (restricted online copy, p. 420, at Google Books)

ISBN

Hajo Holborn: History of Modern Germany: 1840–1945. Princeton University Press 1982,  978-0-691-00797-7, p. 117 (restricted online copy, p. 117, at Google Books)

ISBN

Ruth Weissbourd Grant: Hypocrisy and integrity: Machiavelli, Rousseau, and the ethics of politics. University of Chicago Press 1997,  978-0-226-30582-0, p. 40–41 (restricted online copy, p. 40, at Google Books)

ISBN

Frank Whelon Wayman (ed.), Paul Francis Diehl (ed.): Reconstructing Realpolitik. University of Michigan Press 1994,  978-0-472-08268-1 (restricted online copy at Google Books)

ISBN

Federico Trocini: L’invenzione della «Realpolitik» e la scoperta della «legge del potere». August Ludwig von Rochau tra radicalismo e nazional-liberalismo, il Mulino, Bologna 2009