realpolitik

Or Re·al·po·li·tik

[rey-ahl-poh-li-teek, ree-]

noun

1. political realism or practical politics, especially policy based on power rather than on ideals.

realpolitik

/ reɪˈɑːlpɒlɪˈtiːk /

noun

1. a ruthlessly realistic and opportunist approach to statesmanship, rather than a moralistic one, esp as exemplified by Bismarck

realpolitik

1. Governmental policies based on hard, practical considerations rather than on moral or idealistic concerns. Realpolitik is German for “the politics of reality” and is often applied to the policies of nations that consider only their own interests in dealing with other countries.

Other Word Forms

• realpolitiker noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of realpolitik¹

First recorded in 1910–15; from German, equivalent to real real ¹ + Politik “politics, policy”; politic

Word History and Origins

Origin of realpolitik¹

C19: German: politics of realism

Example Sentences

Juvenile power fantasies are now meeting realpolitik and power.

From Salon

“India is in many ways the epitome of the ‘realpolitik state’ in today’s world, meaning it has no permanent friends or enemies, only interests.

From Salon

In an email, Norman Ornstein, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and a prominent pro-democracy voice, offered a dose of realpolitik.

From Salon

One can almost imagine a more clear-headed and ruthless version of Trump who sticks to that kind of hardcore realpolitik and gets away with it.

From Salon

It's partly the sort of realpolitik of the chalk network that I live on, which is just this spectacularly rare ecosystem.

From Salon

Related Words

• civics