Final answer:
Both Otto von Bismarck and Camillo Cavour played key roles in the unification of their respective countries, Germany and Italy, using Realpolitik and nationalism to achieve this end.
Step-by-step explanation:
Both Otto von Bismarck and Camillo Cavour were instrumental in the unification of their respective nations, Germany and Italy, during the mid-19th century. Bismarck, serving as the Prussian Chancellor, used his Realpolitik strategy to manipulate national sentiments, initiate decisive wars, and expand Prussian power, ultimately leading to the German unification in 1871. Similar to Bismarck, Cavour, the Prime Minister of Piedmont-Sardinia, leveraged Italian nationalism to expel Austrian influence and unify the various Italian states into a single kingdom under the Savoy monarchy, headed by Victor Emmanuel II. Both leaders exemplified a pragmatic approach to politics and statecraft, prioritizing the consolidation and expansion of their respective states over ideological pursuits.