Finale: Populist Idealism or Pragmatic Realism?

Abstract

The ‘On the Runs’ controversy of 2014 contrasted the pragmatic Realist political skills that brought peace and the populist Idealist expectations of the audience, media and the publicly expressed views of most political actors. Actors and audience want the peace but are reluctant to face up to the ‘political or theatrical skills’, including deception, that were used to bridge the gap between a (still) polarised audience. The pragmatic Realism that was successful in Northern Ireland was also successful in South Africa. Nelson Mandela explicitly rejected his depiction as a ‘saint’, embraced pragmatic Realism and the ‘theatrical’ skills of a political actor. Yet although there is evidence to suggest that Realism is effective, it is an unpopular approach to politics.