Realpolitik is the approach of conducting diplomatic or political policies based primarily on considerations of given circumstances and factors, rather than strictly following ideological, moral, or ethical premises. In this respect, it shares aspects of its philosophical approach with those of realism and pragmatism. It is often simply referred to as pragmatism in politics, e.g. "pursuing pragmatic policies" or "realistic policies".
Otto von Bismarck, a German statesman often associated with Realpolitik
Lee Kuan Yew, first Prime Minister of Singapore and one of the founders of the People's Action Party
Zbigniew Brzezinski
Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq
Realism (international relations)
Realism, a school of thought in international relations theory, is a theoretical framework that views world politics as an enduring competition among self-interested states vying for power and positioning within an anarchic global system devoid of a centralized authority. It centers on states as rational primary actors navigating a system shaped by power politics, national interest, and a pursuit of security and self-preservation.
Niccolò Machiavelli's work The Prince of 1532 was a major stimulus to realist thinking.