Machiavelli’s audaciously honest Prince: A guide to the classics that reveals how politics works
A classic of political realism
Machiavelli’s name is associated with manipulation and self-serving political tactics, yet his writing is also taught as a foundation for studying politics and power. The Prince is considered a classic for its direct attention to how political life operates, rather than an ideal picture of how it ought to work.
The book has 26 short chapters and runs to 105 pages. Each chapter considers how a ruler might acquire or maintain power in a particular situation, offering practical observations about different political conditions.
Originally written in vernacular Italian, The Prince was read here in W.K. Marriott’s English translation. Marriott praised its serious substance and plain style, qualities that match the book’s concise approach.
Adaptability and public trust
Machiavelli’s account of power begins with observing human nature and accepting circumstances as they are. He argues that rulers must adjust when conditions change; leaders who cling to strategies that no longer fit may fail.
He also stresses communication and connection with the public. A ruler should maintain close ties with subjects, welcome dialogue and give people a way to bring forward grievances, while avoiding the hatred that can make rebellion more likely.
Machiavelli sees leadership as requiring a careful balance between affection and fear. He writes that fear is safer than love because love can be broken, but warns that fear must not become hatred.
Trump and Machiavelli’s legacy
The article connects Machiavelli’s advice to modern politics, naming Donald Trump as a leader who appears to favor fear over love. But international relations professor Stephen M. Walt argues that Trump is not an exemplary Machiavellian ruler.
Walt describes Trump as a very bad prince, saying he is widely hated rather than loved or feared. The article links that assessment to economic policy and treatment of women, and says it leaves the Republican Party vulnerable ahead of US midterm elections.
Machiavelli was born in Florence in 1469, when the city was rising as a major Italian power under Lorenzo de’ Medici. He entered public service after the nobility’s fall in 1494; when the republic ended and the Medici returned in 1512, he lost his position.
Key points
- The Prince examines how rulers acquire and retain power across different political situations.
- Machiavelli’s realism includes adapting to changing conditions and staying connected with the public.
- He argues fear can be more dependable than love, but warns that hatred puts rulers at risk.
- Stephen M. Walt argues Donald Trump is not an exemplary Machiavellian ruler.