Skip to main content

How did Niccolo Machiavelli connect the anarchy in international politics with his book The Prince?

Machiavelli approached his political treatise The Prince as a primer for rulers of various types of political entities extant in Italy during his time, the early 16th-century. He uses the term "states" to describe these political entities, which ranged from hereditary kingdoms to Republics and city-states found among the political amalgam of Italy at that time (which wouldn't become a unified nation until the late 19th century).


Machiavelli's overarching theme in The Prince is the notion that rulers,...

Machiavelli approached his political treatise The Prince as a primer for rulers of various types of political entities extant in Italy during his time, the early 16th-century. He uses the term "states" to describe these political entities, which ranged from hereditary kingdoms to Republics and city-states found among the political amalgam of Italy at that time (which wouldn't become a unified nation until the late 19th century).


Machiavelli's overarching theme in The Prince is the notion that rulers, even those elected by democratic means (though those means were often restricted to election by a limited number of citizens at that time, mainly the powerful), could not rule in the abstract, i.e., they could not effectively rule via idealistic notions that involved broad participation in decisions by those who were ruled. Machiavelli inveighed against the notion that rulers should be transparent and entirely honest to those who were ruled, and in fact often must adopt subterfuge and blunt political stratagems that might go against the popular will, for the benefit of not only the state he ruled, but for the subjects of citizens of that state. A famous quote from the work is the following:



"He who neglects what is done for what ought to be done, sooner effects his ruin than his preservation."



Machiavelli observed a world that, as in many parts of Europe such as Germany, possessed myriad political, religious, class and racial tensions, tensions that often threatened to boil over and result in great upheaval. His contention in The Prince was that political rule required a strong hand to control these tensions and keep competing factions in check, and that the means of controlling political turmoil was justified by the ends, i.e., a modicum of political tranquility.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What is the meaning of "juggling fiends" in Macbeth?

Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a... Macbeth is beginning to realize that the three witches have been deceiving him since he first encountered them. Like jugglers, they have kept changing their forecasts in order create confusion. This is particularly apparent when the Second Apparition they raise in Act IV,   Scene 1 tells him that no man of woman born can overcome him in hand-to-hand battle--and then Macbeth finds himself confronted by the one man he has been avoiding out of a sense of guilt, and that man tells him: Despair thy charm. And let the angel whom thou still hast serve...
Post a Comment
Read more

Discuss movements that were inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and list one success for each group.

African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change... African-Americans contributed in a very big way during World War II. These contributions were demonstrated at home and on the battlefield. After the war, African-Americans properly felt it was time for them to achieve equality with white Americans. During the 1950's, the modern Civil Rights Movement was born and it had a number of successes (integration of the military and Brown vs. Board of Education as examples.) This success inspired other activists to demand change for their agendas. Two examples of moveme...
Post a Comment
Read more

In Martel's Life of Pi, how does writing a diary help Pi Patel build on his leadership skills?

At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can... At the end of chapter 73, Pi first divulges the fact that he had started a diary after about a week alone at sea. Pi claims that he wrote about "practical stuff" (208) such as what he caught for food, foreseeable problems and solutions, Richard Parker, and reflections about specific events that occurred. In a sense, Pi is the captain of his ship; therefore, he must take responsibility for himself and his crew. He can do this by writing down events, problems and solutions, and reflections to look back on when confronted with repeated problems. It can ...
Post a Comment
Read more