Niccolo Machiavelli and
Contemporary Politics
Dr. Alan Haffa
Niccoló Machiavelli (1469-1527),
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Involved in the expulsion of the Medici in the
1490s and served as Secretary for the Republic
that lasted from 1494-1512
Accused of conspiracy and exiled in 1513
Writings: The Prince (1513, pub.1532);
Discourses on Livy (pub. 1531); History of
Florence, 1520; Art of War, 1521; Play entitled
The Mandrake (1528)
Writings put on the Index of Prohibited Books,
1564
Florence in the late 15th and early
16th centuries
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1494; Piero de’ Medici made a treaty with Charles
VIII of France, which outraged the people
Piero is overthrown by popular revolt and the
people make their own treaty with France;
Dominican Friar, Savanarola, excommunicated and
burned in 1498
Loss of fortresses, including Pisa; regaining Pisa
was Florence’s goal for years
Republic was overthrown by Spanish in 1512 when
M.’s militia was defeated at Prato; Medici reinstated
by Spain
Method
Political Science and Social Science
 Looks at classical anecdotes to draw
lessons
 Observes similar lessons from looking at
contemporary politics
 Establishes political “laws”
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The Discourses: Public
Indictments
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“Public Indictments are for the maintenance of
Liberty in a Republic”
Coriolanus: Called for the plebs to be denied corn
dole; murdered had not tribunes called him to
testify
Legal outlet for anger of the people
Valori: power of a prince; no constitutional
opposition; “Had it in this case been possible to
oppose Valori by constitutional methods, an end
would have been had to his authority without harm
to anybody but himself…”
False Rumors (Calumnies) are
Bad for Republics
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“Calumnies are more prevalent in cities in which
less use is made of public accusations, and in
which less provision has been made for receiving
them. He, therefore, who constitutes a republic
should do it in such a way that charges may be
brought against any citizen without fear of any
kind and without respect to persons. Where
provision for this has been made, and due
recourse is had to it, calumniators should be
severely punished.”
Whistleblowers?
The Prince: Ways to Consolidate a
Conquest
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Settlements versus Military Garrisons
Best of all is for the Prince to go and Live there
Establishment of settlements: only angers those who are
displaced, and they are weak and scatted; the new colonists
have a commitment to fight for you
Modern Parallels? Israeli settlements in West Bank and
Gaza
Garrisons: Need for Many Troops
Easy to get revenge on you as troops are a visible target of
your presence
Garrisons costs more money and do more injury to the
conquered people because of how an army impacts the
area
Modern Parallel? Iraq?
How to hold and pacify conquered
territory
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Become a friend of weak neighboring states
Weaken stronger neighbors however possible;
Danger of strong neighbors: a faction will invite them
to invade and their strength makes them dangerous
Modern Parallel in Iraq? American policy toward Iran
and Syria on the one hand; Saudi Arabia and Kuwait
on the other; Iran?
Ancient Example: The Aetolians brought Rome into
Greece
Louis XII of France was invited into Italy by the
Venetians
Countries used to a Prince are
easier to Control
Precept: it is easier to conquer a country
with many factions and divisions; but, it is
harder to control it once taken.
 It is harder to conquer a unified country,
long used to it’s “prince” and used to being
ruled; but, it is easier to control it once
taken
 Japan in WWII versus Iraq?
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Precept on War
Never allow disorder to continue so as to
escape a war
 “One does not escape; the war is merely
postponed to one’s disadvantage”
 He might well have supported a preemptive
war against Iraq
 Cold War Example: He would have advised
war with Russia at the end of WW II; would
that have been wise in hindsight?
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Ways to Acquire Power
Ability and Prowess: Moses
 Fortune: Cesare Borgia (son of Pope
Alexander VI)
 Crime: Syracusan Agathocles whose
soldiers killed the Senate
 Crime can bring Power, but not Glory
 Counter Example: Oliverto di Fermo, who
killed his maternal Uncle to gain the city
 Modern Parallel: Sadaam Hussein;
Mussolini?
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Violence and Cruelty?
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Cruelty will make you hated and that could stir up
popular resentment and uprising
Yet, cruelty in of itself should not be avoided; but it
should be used well—it should be final, it should be
for safety, and it should not be persisted in.
“Violence must be inflicted once for all”
Summary: Do your dirty work and get it over with;
don’t drag it out or gradually increase it
Modern Parallel: Our military policy in Vietnam
versus Iraq; Shock and Awe versus ‘graduated
response’
Factions
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People, Nobles, and Army
The King needs the People, but nobles he can
make or unmake at will; Caesar Augustus as
example
If you have qualities the people admire—courage,
perseverance, cautious wisdom—the people will
support you
Besides the people, you must keep control of the
Army; most coups are led by generals
Modern Parallel: President as Commander in Chief,
not generals
Army
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“You cannot have god laws without good arms, and when
there are good arms,good laws inevitably follow.”
True or False?
Army should be a citizen army; M. blames the decline of Italy
partly on the use of auxillaries (allies) and mercenaries; the
strength of one is a threat and the cowardice of the other
Why did we not make use of Turkey as an ‘auxillary’ in the
Iraq war?
Kurdish militia?
Ancient Parallel: Decline of Rome began when she hired
Goths as mercenaries
Future of our volunteer army; if we ever hire foreigners to
serve in the army, look out!
Political Pragmatism: RealPolitik
“The fact is that a man who wants to act
virtuously in every way necessarily comes to
grief among so many who are not virtuous.”
 True or False?
 ‘A prince must avoid the reputation for vice,
but when necessary, he must know how to
act contrary to virtue.’
 The end justifies the means
 Modern Question: Is Torture a Proper Policy
in the war on terrorism?
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Compassion?
“Better to be reputed compassionate than
cruel, but do so in the right way.”
 “It is better to be feared than loved, if you
cannot have both.”
 Avoid being Hated!
 Do not take the property or women of your
citizens!
 Modern Issue: Imminent Domain? Detainee
Treatment?
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Fox and Lion
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Be a Fox (Deceptive) AND a Lion (Brave and
courageous)
“A ruler must NOT honor his word when it is not to
his advantage to do so or when the reasons for
which he made a promise no longer exist”
“If all men were good this precept would be
immoral; but they are not. Because men are wicked
and would not keep their word to you, you don’t
have to keep yours.”
Morality is based upon reciprocity, not an internal or
divine code
Appearances Count more than
Reality
“He should appear compassionate, faithful to
his word, kind, guileless and devout…but if
need be, he should be ready to do the
opposite.”
 Appear to keep your word?
 “No New Taxes!” sunk Bush Sr.
 “I did not have relations with that woman.”
sunk Clinton
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Religion
“Nothing so important as to appear
religious.”
 Image is everything
 “Everyone sees what you appear to be, but
few experience what you really are”
 Modern Parallel: Do we observe this in
contemporary politics?
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Avoid being Hated
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“Princes should delegate to others the enactment of
unpopular measures and keep in their own hands
the distribution of favors.”
College governance: Deans versus Presidents
Clinton: assigned Healthcare reform to Hillary
Bush: Use of Swift Boat Veterans to attack the
patriotism of Kerry
Response to Iraq Criticism and Rep. Murtha; why
not as successful?
Conclusions
Machiavelli was hated in his day for revealing
the truth about how politics was conducted
 His precepts are still valid today: 1) image is
everything; 2) importance of appearing
religious and moral; 3) Appear to keep your
word—a politician popularity is finished if he
appears to have lied;
 M. really wanted a strong prince to unify Italy,
drive out the foreigners, and restore Italy’s
pride and honor
 Is Machiavelli relevant in a modern Republic?
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