Machiavelli: Politics, Power, and The Prince

Machiavelli: Life and Political Philosophy

Niccolò Machiavelli was born in Florence in 1469 into a noble family and received a good education. He actively participated in political life until the age of 44, dedicating his time to political theory. His most seminal work is The Prince. Machiavelli was primarily interested in presenting the mechanics of government, divorced from moral questions, and in formulating the means by which political power can be established and maintained. He argued that if a state's primary goal is to ensure its safety and welfare, the ruler is justified in using immoral means to establish and preserve power. Machiavelli's thinking is dominated by political realism: he sought to analyze the pure political act, devoid of transcendent or moral connotations. This act is considered valid only if it proves effective. This analysis seeks to identify the necessary and immutable laws that govern human history, which he believed repeats relentlessly, shaping the past, present, and future of mankind.

The Ideal Machiavellian Politician

According to Machiavelli, the politician must be a capable individual, able to manipulate situations using any means necessary. Key attributes include:

• Skill and Cunning: The ability to navigate complex political landscapes.
• Strength and Tenacity: A balanced combination to overcome adversity.
• Insight: The foresight to anticipate and overcome obstacles.
• Lack of Scruples: A willingness to act amorally when required for the state's benefit.

Furthermore, the politician should be adaptable to momentary changes, capable of seeking support or forcing treason depending on the circumstances. Consequently, the politician need not possess any inherent virtue but must be adept at simulating all virtues. This involves acting with complete disregard for good and evil (i.e., amorally) and, if necessary, with absolute despotism to achieve state objectives.

Machiavelli on Governance and State Forms

Regarding forms of government, Machiavelli considered the Republic the best possible form. This view might seem difficult to reconcile with his doctrine of political despotism. However, he justified despotism only as a necessary prelude to establishing and managing a state where a Republic could eventually be founded. Political despotism, in this context, would be a lesser evil if it paved the way for a republican government, characterized by majority rule.

A ruler's actions, in Machiavelli's view, are justified by their efficiency and effectiveness, not by ethical or religious connotations. His focus was not on describing ideal states but on governing real states effectively. In essence, Machiavelli's "modernity" lies in his emphasis on the state as a sovereign body that maintains its vigor and drive through a policy of force. However, he did not elaborate on a systematic theory, nor did he endeavor to do so.