realon.adj.
/reɪˈɑːləʊ/, U.S. /reɪˈɑloʊ/ Politics.
A. n.
Originally and esp. in Germany: a member of the pragmatic or more moderate wing of the Green Party; (later, also) a moderate or pragmatic environmentalist. Contrasted with fundi n.3
ΚΠ
1984 Christian Sci. Monitor 24 May 10/1 Within the countercultural Greens it adds to the weight of the ‘realos’..as against the ‘fundamentalists’. The latter want to remain a pure protest ‘antiparty party’ that will never compromise.
1993 Guardian 30 July ii. 18/1 The ‘fundies’ in the multi-national organisation [sc. Greenpeace] object fiercely to Solo's size and fuel consumption and want a greener, wind-assisted alternative, while the ‘realos’ say they need something strong and fast enough to compete with naval ships.
2000 J. Radcliffe Green Politics viii. 148 While the Fundis supported such activities the Realos objected because of potential damage to their public support.
B. adj. (attributive).
Originally and esp. in Germany: of, designating or relating to the pragmatic wing of the Green Party (in later use, also the Green movement generally).
ΚΠ
1984 N.Y. Times 21 June a3/2 The agreement was a victory for the Greens' ‘Realo’ wing.
1996 J. S. Dryzek Democracy in Capitalist Times vii. 151 ‘Realo’ hostility to action in the streets implies that tactical unity in the movement is essential. But compromisers with the state can in fact benefit from the existence of opponents of the state. This is especially evident in U.S. environmental politics.
1998 G. S. Gaard Ecol. Politics vi. 243 Some Greens perceived Bonk's interpretation of leadership as a realo perspective.
This is a new entry (OED Third Edition, March 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.adj.1984