What is Realpolitik according to Bismarck?
Realpolitik, as I understood and practiced it, is the antithesis of idealism in governance. It means dealing with the world as it is, not as one wishes it to be. We observe the tangible realities of power, the self-interest that drives nations and men, and we act accordingly. Morality and abstract principles are luxuries the state cannot always afford. Success is measured by outcomes, by the strengthening of one's own power and the security of the state. It is the art of the possible, adapting to circumstances rather than clinging to rigid doctrines. Ideals are for poets and priests; for statesmen, there are facts.
Ask Otto von Bismarck the follow-up →