Machiavelli and Machiavelli and The PrinceThe Prince

Politics as an ArtPolitics as an Art Our purpose here is to study politics as Our purpose here is to study politics as

an end in itself, not just as a means by an end in itself, not just as a means by which policies are created, implemented, which policies are created, implemented, etc.etc.

How to become a politician and navigate How to become a politician and navigate politics is akin to becoming a professional politics is akin to becoming a professional athlete, doctor, or other professional.athlete, doctor, or other professional.

Successful politicians help shape the Successful politicians help shape the future by leading the political process – future by leading the political process – successful policies are rooted in successful policies are rooted in successful politicians – it is talent, skill!successful politicians – it is talent, skill!

Background on MachiavelliBackground on Machiavelliand the Princeand the Prince

MachiavelliMachiavelli’’s political and theoretical s political and theoretical writings start off as a magnificent point writings start off as a magnificent point to begin our class.to begin our class.

MachiavelliMachiavelli’’s work is insightful especially s work is insightful especially in those situations where there is in those situations where there is instability or substantial change at hand. instability or substantial change at hand. The Prince is a playbook, a manual of The Prince is a playbook, a manual of sorts, for leadership where government sorts, for leadership where government needs to be created or stabilized.needs to be created or stabilized.

MachiavelliMachiavelli

Lived 1469-1527 Medici, Italy. Lived 1469-1527 Medici, Italy. Lived an unstable period of the fractured, Lived an unstable period of the fractured,

war-prone city-states of the Italian war-prone city-states of the Italian peninsula (before unification as a single peninsula (before unification as a single country).country).

Hence, the key problem to his period is Hence, the key problem to his period is the lack of a unified, stable government the lack of a unified, stable government for Italy, due to intervention by outside for Italy, due to intervention by outside monarchies and the political strength of monarchies and the political strength of the Pope. the Pope.

Machiavelli as first Modern Machiavelli as first Modern Political TheoristPolitical Theorist

Machiavelli is considered the first Machiavelli is considered the first political theorist due to rejection of political theorist due to rejection of Ancient philosophy, which is Ancient philosophy, which is characterized by:characterized by: Happiness is goalHappiness is goal- a well formed - a well formed

society like a beehive- everyone in society like a beehive- everyone in their place and peaceful. (Plato, their place and peaceful. (Plato, Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, etc.) Aristotle, Augustine, Aquinas, etc.)

Nature or Gods control fate of Nature or Gods control fate of humanity.humanity.

Machiavelli believes…Machiavelli believes… That man must control his own That man must control his own

destiny, not God(s) or society. In so destiny, not God(s) or society. In so doing, man is in effect not allowing doing, man is in effect not allowing ““naturenature”” to dictate his fate. to dictate his fate.

Power is what people want and that Power is what people want and that people will do anything to obtain itpeople will do anything to obtain it

That the teachings of Socrates, Jesus, That the teachings of Socrates, Jesus, and Confucius are fine intellectually and Confucius are fine intellectually but that people do not actually behave but that people do not actually behave that waythat way

The PrinceThe Prince Written as a gift for Prince Lorenzo Written as a gift for Prince Lorenzo

dede’’ Medici, in order to help win a Medici, in order to help win a political job. political job. The Prince is not as The Prince is not as coherent as most theoretical works coherent as most theoretical works due to its purpose as a gift and as due to its purpose as a gift and as a playbook of sorts for politicians, a playbook of sorts for politicians, but contains many useful insights. but contains many useful insights.

MachiavelliMachiavelli’’s more important work s more important work is the is the Discourses on LivyDiscourses on Livy, which , which explains how and why to set up a explains how and why to set up a Republic.Republic.

The PrinceThe Prince

Theme: POWER!Theme: POWER! How to get it and how to keep itHow to get it and how to keep it An individual can learn how to obtain An individual can learn how to obtain

and maintain power through lessons of and maintain power through lessons of history----both immediate history and history----both immediate history and the histories of Greece and Rome. the histories of Greece and Rome.

Your Turn!Your Turn!

In your notebooks:In your notebooks: 1. Identify positions that call for leadership 1. Identify positions that call for leadership

Ex. School principalEx. School principal 2. What generalizations can you make about 2. What generalizations can you make about

the skills these leaders should have?the skills these leaders should have? Ex. honestyEx. honesty

3. What are skills, traits, or powers you think 3. What are skills, traits, or powers you think help a leader get ahead or get things done?help a leader get ahead or get things done? Do any overlap with question number two?Do any overlap with question number two?

The PrinceThe Prince

1st decision that an individual must make is 1st decision that an individual must make is whether he really wants power because a whether he really wants power because a person who does not truly desire power person who does not truly desire power should stay out of that arena. Those who should stay out of that arena. Those who seek power must be willing to do whatever is seek power must be willing to do whatever is necessary to obtain it.necessary to obtain it.

22ndnd decision is those who seek power must decision is those who seek power must understand:understand: What they want power overWhat they want power over How they will exercise powerHow they will exercise power How they will maintain powerHow they will maintain power

The PrinceThe Prince

A leader must possess several A leader must possess several characteristics:characteristics: CunningCunning Stingy: power is about force and the money Stingy: power is about force and the money

to buy that force and sustain itto buy that force and sustain it Believed Caesar was too generous and would ruin Believed Caesar was too generous and would ruin

himselfhimself Cruel: being hated and feared is better than Cruel: being hated and feared is better than

being lovedbeing loved Ability to lie: leaders should never keep a Ability to lie: leaders should never keep a

promise unless it convenientpromise unless it convenient

The PrinceThe Prince

Selection of supporters is also Selection of supporters is also importantimportant Capable, loyal, and under the leader’s Capable, loyal, and under the leader’s

controlcontrol Must be flatterers, but the leader must Must be flatterers, but the leader must

be able to judge this flatterybe able to judge this flattery Anyone who contradicts the leader in Anyone who contradicts the leader in

public or gives a honest opinion in public or gives a honest opinion in public must be removedpublic must be removed