For a long time, realist political theorizing centered on the ‘circumstances of politics’ and criticized mainstream liberalism for relying on moralistic, pre-political values and ignoring the feasibility constraints of politics. More recently, realists have shifted their focus and now attempt to develop normative approaches that present alternatives to ideal theory. A remarkable step in this direction is Matt Sleat’s investigation into a form of liberalism that is compatible with realism. Reinterpreting the main traditions of normative theory through the lens of realism is a promising way to enrich the debate on political realism. I take up this approach and apply it to republicanism. The central questions will be: What might republicanism look like if erected on the basis of realism? Is there a specific republican version of realist legitimacy? A good starting point for such an endeavor seems to be the “Italian-Atlantic” tradition of republicanism that is characterized by notions of freedom as non-domination, a “mixed constitution” and a “contestatory citizenship”.
