Question

The idea is negotiating peacefully but also having strength in case things go wrong. Simultaneously threatening with the "big stick", or the military, ties in heavily with the idea of Realpolitik, which implies a pursuit of political power that resembles Machiavellian ideals.

Answer 1

The concept you're describing aligns with a strategic approach often associated with Realpolitik, which emphasizes practical and realistic considerations, often at the expense of moral or ethical concerns.

Realpolitik, a term coined in the 19th century, is rooted in the idea that political actions should be guided by the pursuit of power, national interest, and the pragmatic assessment of the current geopolitical landscape.

Negotiating peacefully while maintaining military strength is a classic example of this approach. The idea is to engage in diplomacy and negotiations to achieve political objectives, but simultaneously, the state must project strength and be prepared to use force if necessary. The metaphorical "big stick" represents the military power that can be leveraged if peaceful negotiations fail or if a show of strength is deemed strategically advantageous.