SpawnPoint

People usually misunderstand my statements when I refer to RealPolitik (Real Politik). They think it is a misspelling of the word, Politic — or a fancy spin on it. They also misunderstand the definition of “Real” in its use. Lets allow me to expand.

re·al·po·li·tik (rā-äl’pō’lĭ-tēk’) noun.
German : real, practical (from Late Latin reālis, real; + Politik, politics (from French politique, political, policy;

Politics based on practical objectives rather than on ideals. The word does not mean “real” in the English sense but rather connotes “things” — hence a politics of adaptation to things as they are. Realpolitik thus suggests a pragmatic, no-nonsense view and a disregard for ethical considerations. In diplomacy it is often associated with relentless, though realistic, pursuit of the national interest.

Some examples;
The policy of realpolitik was formally introduced to the Nixon White House by Henry Kissinger. In this context, the policy meant dealing with other powerful nations in a practical manner rather than on the basis of political doctrine or ethics — for instance, Nixon’s diplomacy with the People’s Republic of China, despite the U.S.’s opposition to communism and the previous doctrine of containment. Another example is Kissinger’s “green-lighting” of Indonesian dictator Suharto’s invasion of East Timor.
Ideological politics is often practiced by groups who are generally considered as radicals within their own communities. Their attitudes and actions may be characterized as unchanging regardless of the circumstances of their social context. In essence they believe that their actions must be dictated by a universal and unchanging set of rules, and should not be aimed at the achievement of a specific (and more limited) set of goals. In this sense ideological politics is much simpler and thus more attractive for those who are uncomfortable with the complexities and tensions inherent to all human societies. Such groups often reject compromises which they see as the abandonment of their ideals, and so sacrifice short-term political gain in favor of adhering to their principles.

A foreign policy guided by realpolitik can also be described as a

realist foreign policy

. Realpolitik is related to realism and can be regarded as one of its foundations, as both implicate power politics. Realpolitik however is a prescriptive guideline for policy-making (like foreign policy), while realism is a paradigm that includes a wide variety of theories that describe, explain and predict international relations. Realpolitik also focuses on the balance of power among nation-states, which is also a central concern in realism. Both also imply operation according to the belief that politics is based on the pursuit, possession, and application of power. This runs a risk of promoting crimes in times of war.