-- How do you keep political power once you have gained it?

- Niccolò Machiavelli is an Italian historian, statesman, and political philosopher, whose amoral, but influential writings on state craft have turned his name into a synonym for cunning and duplicity (Machiavellian).

- He was a humanist and a student of Ancient Rome. He was impressed by the Romans and how the rulers and citizens defended themselves. He wrote about sixteenth century problems using classical forms and upholding the classical laws of Ancient Rome.

- In the course of his diplomatic missions within Italy he became acquainted with many of the Italian rulers wand was able to study their political tactics.

- In 1498 he was named chancellor and secretary of the second chancellery of the Florentine Republic. In 1512, when the Medici, a Florentine family regained power in Florence and the Republic was dissolved he was deprived of office and briefly imprisoned for alleged conspiracy against them.

- After his release he retired to his estate near Florence, where he wrote his most important works. Despite his efforts to gain favor of the Medici rulers, he was never restored to his prominent government position.

- His experiences brought him to two conclusions, men are wicked, and chaotic Italy had to be united under one prince. His philosophy : Because men are evil they must be controlled by a ruler for the good of the country. He believed that the end justified the means, so the ruler may assassinate, lie, cheat, steal, or wage war. Monarchs are above the laws of society, church and morality. The prince should bring the church under his control because it teaches people to obey authority.

The Prince

- "The Prince" was published in 1532.

- His model for the "Prince" was Cesare Borgia, a man who used all his means of conquest, including murder to achieve and hold his political position.

- He never pretended his book was a guide to the virtuous; on the other hand, he didn't

want to set out to prescribe the way to wickedness. He wanted the book to be a practical guide to political power. With an effective combination of imagination, logic, and experience he crafted one of the most intriguing handbooks of Western Civilization: a primer for princes.

- It's an account of how successful politicians actually work rather than how they should work. He considers what the logical alternatives are and what should be done in each case if the prince to acquire and hold power.

Important Machiavellian views.

- To keep power one must be careful not to be hated by the people; it is always for a prince to be a true friend or a true enemy than to be neutral; a prince should never listen to advice unless ha asks for it; an it is better to be bold than cautious.

- "And here comes the question whether it is better to be loved rather than feared, or feared rather than loved. It might perhaps be answered that we should be both; but since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."

- " Be it known that there are two ways of contending, one in accordance with the laws, the other by force; the first of which is proper to men, the second to beasts. But since the first method is often ineffectual, it becomes necessary to resort to the second. A Prince should understand how to use well both the man and the beast.....A Prince should know how to use both natures, and that the one without the other has no stability."

- " Of the beasts he ought both the lion and the fox; for the lion cannot guard himself from the toils, nor, the fox from wolves. He must be therefore a fox to discern the toils and a lion to drive off wolves."

- "..... since they [men] are dishonest and do not keep faith with you, you need not keep faith with them."

- It is not essential that a prince have many good qualities ( mercy, faith, being humane, religious..) but it's most essential that he seems like he has them. If he practices them all, they are hurtful, whereas the appearance of having them is useful.

" Thus it is well to seem merciful, faithful, humane, religious, and upright, and to be so; but the mind should remain so balanced that were it needful not to be so, you should be able to change to the contrary."

- A prince shouldn't hesitate to take sides in a conflict. Being on one side or the other is a better idea than being neutral. For supposing two of your powerful neighbors it must be that you have or have not any reason to fear the one who comes out victorious. If you stay neutral, you become the prey of the victor to the satisfaction and delight of the vanquished. The victor disliked doubtful friends because you would not help him on a pinch and the vanquished will have nothing to say to you since you would not share his fortune sword in hand.

- " And here let it be noted that a Prince should be careful never to join with one stronger than himself in attacking others ...For is he whom you join prevails , you are at his mercy."