westpolitik: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialised / Historical / Academic
Quick answer
What does “westpolitik” mean?
A foreign policy oriented towards or prioritising relations with Western countries.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A foreign policy oriented towards or prioritising relations with Western countries.
The strategic, political, and diplomatic approach of a nation (historically and notably referring to East Germany during the Cold War) aimed at engagement, recognition, or integration with Western nations and blocs.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. The term is more likely to appear in British scholarly texts on 20th-century European history due to proximity and focus.
Connotations
Historical, analytical, specific to Cold War German studies.
Frequency
Extremely rare in general usage in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “westpolitik” in a Sentence
[Country/Government] + pursued a policy of WestpolitikThe central tenet of their + Westpolitik + was...A shift towards WestpolitikVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “westpolitik” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The GDR began to cautiously Westpolitik-ise its diplomatic stance.
American English
- The regime sought to Westpolitik its way out of isolation.
adverb
British English
- [Not used adverbially]
American English
- [Not used adverbially]
adjective
British English
- His Westpolitik agenda faced significant opposition.
American English
- The Westpolitik strategy was a calculated risk.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, political science, and international relations texts discussing post-war Germany and Cold War diplomacy.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Used as a precise historical term in geopolitical analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “westpolitik”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “westpolitik”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “westpolitik”
- Capitalising it in mid-sentence English prose (it can be lowercased).
- Using it outside of a historical German/East European context.
- Misspelling as 'westpolitic'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a German loanword used in specialised English historical and political discourse.
The direct opposite is 'Ostpolitik', the policy of engagement with Eastern bloc countries, famously associated with West German Chancellor Willy Brandt.
While it is capitalised in German, in English it is often lowercased ('westpolitik') after its first use, especially when not referring to a specific, named policy document or era.
No, it is almost exclusively a historical term referring to Cold War-era foreign policy, particularly of East Germany.
A foreign policy oriented towards or prioritising relations with Western countries.
Westpolitik is usually specialised / historical / academic in register.
Westpolitik: in British English it is pronounced /ˈvɛstpɒlɪˌtiːk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈvɛstpoʊlɪˌtik/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'West' + 'Politik' (German for 'policy'). It's the policy of looking West.
Conceptual Metaphor
FOREIGN POLICY IS A DIRECTION (Westward).
Practice
Quiz
'Westpolitik' is a term most closely associated with which historical context?