What policies did Bismarck follow to reach his goals?

Otto Von Bismarck pursued a series of pragmatic policies to achieve his goals of German unification and the establishment of Prussian dominance in Europe. He employed a strategy of "Realpolitik," focusing on practical and strategic alliances, such as the Austro-Prussian War of 1866, which excluded Austria from German affairs, and the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-71, which rallied German states against a common enemy. Bismarck also implemented social policies, including welfare programs, to undermine the appeal of socialism and gain popular support. Through careful diplomacy and manipulation of nationalist sentiments, he successfully unified Germany under Prussian leadership in 1871.