Realism
Realism in the Cyberpunk Universe refers to the belief that although not ideal, corporate governance is currently the best system. It posits that one must game the system in order to secure a decent lifestyle.
In terms of aesthetics, it is closely related to Neomilitarism.
Principles
- The corporate game was rigged from the start; the only way to win is to rig it in your favor
- Corporate success is measured by the amount of politics and subterfuge you engage in to secure your place
- Everything is a zero-sum game; if you want to be on top, you have to put others down
Most Movers, Mallplexers and Beavers are firm believers in Realism. While the thought sometimes sneaks into the minds of Corpzoners or Edgerunners, it isn't the dominant belief among either group. Realism keeps the lower part of the corporate ladder at war with itself, allowing very few to rise into the status of Corpzoners (and even fewer still, if any, to Powerdealers).
A Realist will always look at the world with skepticism. They will never take anything for granted - if something seems too sweet, its because it probably is. This means they'd rather turn down an opportunity for fear of their beliefs being reinforced. At the same time, Realists might look for easy ways to cheat the system, like picking up side gigs, selling off valuable info etc. At some point, these risky side hustles do catch up to them.
Realism is constantly perpetuated by Corpzoners (and to a lesser extent, Powerdealers) indirectly by their adherence to Idealism and all of its precepts. Thus, those under them become disillusioned with that thought and instead revert to a disgruntled and paranoid perspective on it. Realism is the inadvertent result of Idealism.
Realists cannot comprehend existing outside of the system and view fighting against the entire system as a pointless struggle that only drains and exhausts. They believe that, by conserving their energy, fighting from within will go unseen and will give them a tactical advantage.
Patrons
Realists often still end up looking to Idealist Patrons, although they perceive them as having stacked the deck in their favor in order to reach their position. Other Realists see legendary Edgerunners as emblems of success. More often than not, the Patrons do not share the Realist ideology.
- Morgan Blackhand, the Solo's Solo
- Saburo Arasaka, CEO of Arasaka
- Elizabeth Kress, ex-president of Militech and Acting President of the NUSA
- Jack Entropy, fake[1] Insurrectionist Rockerboy
Further reading
Realism is based on the general apathy of the masses in regards to the late-stage capitalism of contemporary society. This apathy has translated into the belief that there is no alternative and civilization may only alter a small portion of it. This belief is called capitalist realism and it could be argued it is a weaponized form of cynicism masquerading as ideology.