Snapshot: Realpolitik

Post by Political Mocktail:

Realpolitik is the politics of power where words have more than one meaning or none at all.  But what’s the purpose?  For practical and material factors rather than ethical objectives.

But does it work?

Let’s consider two monumental moments in recent history.

In the 1930s, Nazi Germany was essentially appeased as Realpolitik was practised.  What followed was one of the worst violations in ethics because practicalities were initially practised.

And more recently, the one time support and hand-shake photo opportunity with many Middle Eastern despots has come to an abrupt end because stabilising practicalities preferred by those living in opulence was  always going to be short term whilst the masses suffered.

Realpolitik is like Napoleon.  It’s short and obscure.

It’s time for Realpolitik to get real.

The Real-realpolitik needs to embrace basketball players whilst discarding the jockeys.

Real-Realpolitik versus Realpolitik is quite simply long-term versus short-term.