Machiavelli Case
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At a time when Italy was enduring a power struggle, Machiavelli wrote “The Prince”. The concept of his book was to clarify what is needed by the princes in order to restore order and unity back to Italy. Machiavelli felt in order to succeed this concept it was imperative that he describes his encounters with princes, current to his time and in the past that had gained and created solidity in their kingdoms. He also included in his work the lessons he learned by observing leaders actions and witnessing the successes and failures in the use of power in Europe. Through an analysis of history Machiavelli believed, that behind a surface of pretended morality, honesty, integrity, and Christian practices and virtues there lived another layer of action, a dark world, dominated by greed, ruthlessness, hypocrisy, lies, intrigue, deception, and even murder.
Having to compare Machiavellis principals to todays modern world can be very difficult. To me there are not too many of his teaching that I would incorporate into my leading. Not saying that he was wrong or a bad person in what he believed in. I feel that times have changed and the styles of ruling have evolved since then. One of Machiavellis main arguments says “”it is much safer to be feared than to be loved, when you have to choose between the two.” (Machiavelli, The Prince). Even though this may be true at times, we still need to remember that he wrote this over hundreds of years ago. Machiavelli felt that if a leader is loved too much, this allows for the people to have too much power which eventually will result in revolt. However, in modern society which democracy being the norm, I feel that Machiavellis principal is non-beneficial. In a democratic society it is better to be loved then to be feared. To me, to be feared means having to afflict harm to others and possibly even death. Though I understand that every leader is different, I on the other hand would be incapable of doing so. To be a strong leader you need to be in your own state of mind and having to act in such cruel manner for the sake of
the state would not be beneficial to me and my leading. Knowing that I participated in something I felt was not right, would plague my mind and I my ability to think for my people and to lead them would be paralyzed. As one notorious leader said “When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers and for a time they seem invincible, but in the end, they always fall, think of it, always.”( Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi). Ghandi contradicted all that Machiavelli believed in. As for me, with a world that has changed in a whole other direction from when Machiavelle was alive, most of his teachings have become old and stale.
Even though I feel that most of Machaivelles principals are out-dated and do not fit in with the modern society,