Realpolitik: Difference between revisions
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* From [[The Other Wiki]]: [[wikipedia:Realpolitik|Realpolitik]] (see also Political realism) From German: real "realistic", "practical" or "actual"; and Politik "politics". Realpolitik refers to politics or diplomacy based primarily on practical considerations, rather than ideological notions or moralistic premises. In this respect, it shares aspects of its philosophical approach with those of realism and pragmatism. The term ''realpolitik'' is often used pejoratively to imply politics that are coercive, amoral or Machiavellian. The term was ''not'' coined by [[Otto von Bismarck]], although he was one of its most famous and successful followers.
** Of course, in real life, moral considerations and what people will, and will not, go along with are real things, factors in the equation just as much as firepower and economic interests. To attempt to totally disregard such things in one's political calculation is in fact contrary to effective Realpolitik.
***Then too, every government has to explain why it should be in power instead of Joe Schmo. It can always say, "We got all these guns, and heck, we like telling people what to do, wouldn't you?" But the idea of the concept of Realpolitik is that it is in the interests of the subjects which begs the question of what is the interest. There is always some ideology.
** In practice, realpolitik is practiced by governments all over the world. The United States, for example, has many allies that do not share the same inherent belief in human rights (for example, Saudi Arabia). By the same token, there are many situations where the United States condemns the actions of a foreign power, but goes no further, because igniting a war in that region would be detrimental to global stability. If you've ever looked at your government and wondered why it does things or cooperates with organizations or governments that seems shady, the answer is probably this.
* Richard Nixon made his political career being a stalwart anticommunist, yet he and Henry Kissinger (his Secretary of State) were the ones who established formal diplomatic ties with the People's Republic of China - both held mutual distrust and suspicion of the Soviet Union at the time.
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** Palmerston said it better in the nineteenth century: "Therefore I say that it is a narrow policy to suppose that this country or that is to be marked out as the eternal ally or the perpetual enemy of England. We have no eternal allies, and we have no perpetual enemies. Our interests are eternal and perpetual, and those interests it is our duty to follow."
* Alexander III of Russia once said: "Russia has two allies: the Army and the Navy".
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