Machiavelli’s advice to create a strong Prince and a stronger Republic

     Several of Niccolo Machiavelli’s ideas starkly contrasted how the Church and Nobles led during his time.  Machiavelli’s idea that the citizens should conduct the business of their society was contrary to how the government was being run at the time.  No longer should a single ruler have absolute authority.  He felt that the people should run the business of the people.  A Prince setting the common good above his own indicated to citizens the value they had in the eyes of the government, which was also allowed to be now run by the citizens.  Machiavelli realizes that this structure provides better stability because the citizens feel empowered to do what is best for them.

     No longer could the arbitrary power of a king subject the citizens to governance that ruled solely for the king’s profit and the benefit of his family.  While there are still nobles in this structure, the class conflict between the populace and the nobility is kept in check by separations of what each could control, similar to what exists in our Congress and Senate today.

     In his idea of Res Publica, Machiavelli shares that the people are more in tune with what they need than the nobles.  He says, "While in the matter of prudence and stability, I claim that the populace is more prudent, stable, and of sounder judgment than the prince. Not without good reason is the voice of the populace likened to that of God, for public opinion is remarkably accurate in its prognostications, so much so that it seems as if the populace, by some hidden power, discerned the evil and the good that was to befall it" (Machiavelli Discourses, p. 255).

     Machiavelli realizes the masses have better insight into their daily affairs, and it seems giving them some semblance of power in those affairs will not only create a balance in their society but could also alleviate some of the animosity they felt when they were ruled solely by nobles.  The ultimate goal is stability, but given some of Machiavelli's earlier writings, one could see that allowing input from the populous is a control mechanism for the upper class over the lower class. 

     Regarding Machiavelli’s thoughts on morality, he insists that the old notions of religion and political actions could no longer be used to make decisions for the State adequately.  In Machiavelli's case, there isn’t morality.  What needs to be done must be done, and it must be done decisively to maintain the prince's power and the stability of his society.  He's trying to tell us that the prince's needs don't require any reference to antiquated ideas of fairness, civility, or civics.  A prince must use force or the threat of force to maintain his power.  “Insecurity in the political world, and that necessity (in Latin, necessitas) drives the prince to do certain things that we would not normally consider to be moral and correct” (MacDonald, Machiavelli III lecture).  This is especially true when creating a new society.  The old ideas and obligations to religious morality and political organization must be wiped clean, even if initially unpopular.  

     At the time, this meant only a man of the strongest will and quickness of necessary cruel actions could gain and maintain control.  This could be done even when the prince speaks differently to his subjects.  It's not unlike the politics of today.  Say what the people want to hear, but act in the way necessary to maintain the stability of your society.  If you can master this, you will not only send a strong message to any potential enemies but also maintain the support of the people.  This is where the prince creates his most security.  The "sound maxim of reprehensible actions" (Machiavelli Discourses, p. 132) is the heart of Machiavelli's thoughts on a prince being at his strongest and most secure.  One cannot worry about or consult ideas of old religious or societal morals before deciding.  The decision must be decisive and, if necessary, cruel.  The fear will keep people in their places and enemies at bay.  And that knowledge of what the prince is capable of will ultimately move his subjects to support him once they realize his cruelty isn't ongoing.  It is used only to defeat his enemies and the enemies of his people. Stability is achieved by any means necessary but also with the understanding that the cruelty must stop once the point has been made.

     Machiavelli's realization of what politics was and what it needed to be led him to take a more calculated approach to formulating a plan for a Prince.  There could be nothing inherited or directed by the church as that would carry perceived obligations and might keep a prince from taking decisive action when needed.  No longer could rulers stay 'in the light" and not care what the people needed.  No, a ruler had to get the support of his people by understanding their lives and concerns. He must be in their hell to understand how to control them and maintain their support.  He has to understand struggle and conflict to rule with a clear vision and not be so cavalier as to think staying above the conflict and struggle will give him what he needs to succeed.  There can only be success by proper planning, decisive action, and maintaining a powerful military to let all potential enemies know the consequences should they try to take his power.  Machiavelli also says a prince “should never take his mind from this exercise of war, and in peacetime he must train himself more than in a time of war” (Machiavelli the Prince, p. 51).  The prince must also be skilled in deception and use that skill to maintain his support when necessary.  When an action is needed, it must be swift and cruel to the point that everyone understands the stakes.  There is no better deterrent than power with a strong military presence.  Machiavelli’s vision is used today by the United States and other countries.  All potential bad actors know the consequences of crossing a leader with a strong will.  This strength carries over into the perception by his citizens that he is their protector.  Maintaining their support is also crucial to his power.

   Machiavelli also realized the intangibles a ruler must face, like fortune, the predictability of human nature, and how the insecurities of the political world must be recognized and used to the prince’s advantage.  The fortune is how nature delivers a person and gives them opportunities that can either make or break them.  They are conditions out of his direct control but can be manipulated by the right person for political advantage.

     The weakness of human nature must be recognized and anticipated, especially in uncertain times.  Understanding the probable reaction in unsteady times can help avoid a corrupted state by helping the prince flesh out those only looking out for themselves.  With this vision, the prince understands that he can only rely on himself.  Others will let him down by their very nature.  The prince must plan for all of the most critical scenarios by keeping his army prepared and acting most viciously when called upon to act.  All of this is done while maintaining the support of his citizens, even if that means deceiving them to maintain control.  There are several similarities in how Machiavelli’s prince should act and how several world powers act today.

     Machiavelli was ahead of his time in that a strong ruler must be prepared, always anticipate the worst in fate and human nature, and plan accordingly.  Anticipating the worst in natural conditions, potential enemies, and the nature of your citizens in difficult times allows you to have a plan should any of those situations arise.  It's no different than military training except that, in these cases, your training is to fight threats that may not be military in nature.  Understanding the landscape from all perspectives gives a strong leader a plan for all times, good and bad.

      As Machiavelli studied the current state of politics, he made some realizations that led him to see a need to break that mold and use a more scientific approach to ruling.  This was going to cause a great deal of resentment from the current ruling class and the church as his political science approach ruled out the need for those two groups and focused more on what values a successful leader must have and the lengths he must go to in order to protect his state and his power.  He knew he must be of the people and gain their support by getting into their lives and understanding what was important to them, not just what was important to him.  He must know what their trials and worries were.  And he must portray that he is always working in their best interest.  But if the time came when he needed to deceive them, he must do it without hesitation.   A prince must learn “when not to be good” (Machiavelli Prince, p. 52) and, when confronted by necessity, must act like a tyrant and use force, even if immoral.  Success comes from adaptation to changes in fortune.  There is no inherited morality.  You can speak of morality to appease the citizens, but you must be willing to act differently when necessary.  People will initially believe what is said by their leaders.  If you are too attached to the old virtues and try to govern with the same, those virtues will turn into “bad politics” (MacDonald Machiavelli III lecture.)  Old vices, by contrast, can turn into political virtues.  For example, generosity can turn into political ruin.  However, being frugal can become a future asset because the prince can finance what his society needs.  The chaos of politics requires some immoral behavior—even cruel methods.  A prince is often driven to be immoral.  Violence is necessary to promote the Prince’s morality, not a religious morality.  And the force or the controlled application of violence can keep a Prince in power.  This is called the “application of morality” (MacDonald Machiavelli III Lecture).  This is especially true in a new society.  Everything must be new and void of religious or old political obligations.  Man should not want that power, but if he does, “One must enter on the path of wrongdoing” (Machiavelli Discourses, p. 177).  You can’t worry about cruelty to keep unity.  Any violence or cruelty is valid if it leads to order.  Violence used to mend society is also justified. 

     While his beliefs were ahead of their times, it’s obvious Machiavelli’s experience as a statesman and his keen observance of governments sharpened his understanding of how a leader can succeed.  Not having an allegiance to the past or to a religion was the first big step.  The next step was understanding how to control the populace and strike fear in any potential enemy by cruel and swift examples.  Once the people saw that these actions were actually to their benefit, the support of the prince was guaranteed.

Machiavelli, Niccolo., and Bernard R. Crick. The Discourses by Niccolo Machiavelli Edited with an Introduction by Bernard Crick Translated by Leslie J. Walker, Revised by Brian Richardson. Penguin Books, 2003.

 Machiavelli, Niccolò, and Peter Bondanella. The Prince. Oxford University Press, 2008.

MacDonald, Bradley.  Machiavelli III Lecture.