Realpolitik' was coined by Ludwig von Rochau, a German writer and politician in the 19th century. His 1853 book Grundsätze der Realpolitik angewendet auf die staatlichen Zustände Deutschlands describes the meaning of the term: "The study of the powers that shape, maintain and alter the state is the basis of all political insight and leads to the understanding that the law of power governs the world of states just as the law of gravity governs the physical world." It is defined now as: "politics or diplomacy based primarily on power and on practical and material factors and considerations, rather than ideological notions or moralistic or ethical premises."
In Germany Realpolitik refers to realistic politics in opposition to idealistic (unrealistic) politics. It is associated with the era of 19th century nationalism. Realpolitik policies were employed in response to the revolutions of 1848, as means to strengthen states and tighten social order. The most famous German advocate of "Realpolitik" was Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck used Realpolitik in his quest to achieve Prussian dominance in Germany. He manipulated political issues such as the Schleswig-Holstein Question and the Hohenzollern candidature to antagonize other countries and cause wars if necessary to attain his goals. The Schleswig-Holstein Question was a complex of diplomatic and other issues arising in the 19th century from the relations of two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein, to the Danish crown and to the German Confederation. Bismark demonstrated a pragmatic view of the real political world. This is exemplified in his willingness to adopt some social policies of the "liberals" such as employee insurance and pensions; in doing so, he used small changes from the top down, to avoid the possibility of major change.
In Germany Realpolitik refers to realistic politics in opposition to idealistic (unrealistic) politics. It is associated with the era of 19th century nationalism. Realpolitik policies were employed in response to the revolutions of 1848, as means to strengthen states and tighten social order. The most famous German advocate of "Realpolitik" was Otto von Bismarck. Bismarck used Realpolitik in his quest to achieve Prussian dominance in Germany. He manipulated political issues such as the Schleswig-Holstein Question and the Hohenzollern candidature to antagonize other countries and cause wars if necessary to attain his goals. The Schleswig-Holstein Question was a complex of diplomatic and other issues arising in the 19th century from the relations of two duchies, Schleswig and Holstein, to the Danish crown and to the German Confederation. Bismark demonstrated a pragmatic view of the real political world. This is exemplified in his willingness to adopt some social policies of the "liberals" such as employee insurance and pensions; in doing so, he used small changes from the top down, to avoid the possibility of major change.