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Machiavelli’s The Prince

• The “rebirth” of interest in the classical antiquities. The revival of learning and emphasis was upon man and his unique abilities.

• Humanism- a philosophy and educational program emphasizing rhetoric and scholarship to ennoble people by training them to use their gifts and minds.

• Chaotic political world in Italy-principalities not unified...Machiavelli’s advice to unify Italy.

• D’ Medici’s were powerful in Florence- bankers, great patrons of art, rulers, popes, queens.

• Cesare Borgia was the prototype of the political ruler in Niccolò Machiavelli’s treatise, The Prince.

• Characterized as unscrupulous, treacherous, and cruel toward his political rivals, Cesare spent years trying to establish his own principality in Italy and was widely feared throughout Italy.

The Prince and Ethics

Machiavelli had a very negative of humans and always expected the worst. He was not an idealist

Idealism- those who advocated moral principals in international laws and organizations

Realism- those suspicious of idealism and stressed the importance of power and conflict-dominate theory of 20th century politics and diplomatic relations.

Rational does not mean normal, wise, or totally objective.

The decision-maker uses a maximizing strategy in calculating how best to achieve his goals – appear moral, but do whatever necessary to retain power without losing control.

Amoral Realism- pioneered by Machiavelli

Authoritarian regime- not only monarchist, but fascists and totalitarians use this system of political governance. Controlled by a dictator.

Republic- system of political governance controlled by citizens.

Bullying strategy- relies on force of war, a Western realist idea…an idea quite opposite Asian ethics as explained in Art of War.

Art of War

Written by Sun-Tzu

A manual for waging war effectively, but used in many aspects of Asian life like business, relationships and politics.

Most important message is “know your enemy, know yourself; fight 100 battle, win 100 battles.

War is not fought only on the battlefield, but in diplomacy, business, politics…the mindgame is as important as the physical battle.

Ideas used by Wall Street corporate raiders in 1980’s.

Other ideas in Art of War:

It’s okay to run from a battle if outnumbered, it’s better to live to fight again, than die needlessly and endanger future campaigns.

It okay to feign ignorance to gather information- 1 good spy is worth a 1000 good soldiers

Battles are fought and won before anyone sets foot on the battlefield.

Completely different idea of honor and ethics, much more holistic rather than compartmentalized Western thought like Machiavelli’s The Prince- Focused on Politics only