Ostpolitik (German for Eastern Politics) describes the politics of the "Change Through Rapprochement" principle, - as verbalised by Egon Bahr in 1963 - by the effort of Willy Brandt, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany), to normalise his country's relations with Eastern European nations (including the German Democratic Republic, or East Germany).

The policy implemented by the Vatican Secretary of State in 1962, and followed by all his successors, under which the Church has ceased all condemnation and opposition to Communist regimes in favor of “dialogue” and “quiet diplomacy”.