Niccolo Machiavelli’s “The Prince” is a book that advises “Princes” on how to speak, behave as well as govern the perspectives and responses of certain situations. It focuses on the qualities that the Prince must uphold during war or while being praised or criticized. Machiavelli emphasizes the need for the Prince to know war since it rises or lowers leaders in the ranks (55). The advice offered by Machiavelli to the Prince focuses on how he can maintain his rank rather than promote the interests of the society.
In today’s society, leaders still face the same issues addressed by Machiavelli and result to different courses of action as guided by their qualities. Therefore, it is essential to apply this knowledge offered by Machiavelli to modern leaders to understand its relevance today. The former president, George Bush, is a good example of a “Machiavellian Prince”. He set in motion many events that have affected the leadership of the current President Obama as well as the taken principle position in the ongoing campaigns. The Republican candidate, Donald Trump, also demonstrates certain qualities that are suggested in the work of Machiavelli. In criticism of “The Prince,” it is important to analyze these politicians and their qualities. The advice offered to the prince in Machiavelli’s book proposes an assortment of different attitudes toward leadership challenges. In modern times, however, the ideology of liberalism has taken root and leaves little room for conservatism, which affects the effectiveness of application of Machiavelli’s principles today.
Machiavelli’s Advice to the Prince
The question of whether to go to war or to maintain peace with other nations is a familiar dilemma for many leaders. Machiavelli in his book proposes that the role of the Prince, just like that on any other ruler, is to focus on the rules, war, and regulations; he believes that the success of a leader comes from fighting to keep his authority. When he ceases the battle, then he becomes vulnerable (Machiavelli 53). He also claims that if one wishes to rise in ranks, he must observe this art of war. Machiavelli states, “Francesco Sforza, through being martial, from a private person became Duke of Milan (3).” However, he also derives an example of the contrary qualities from the sons of Francesco Sforza, who fell from grace to become “private people” like their father previously was. Acquiring skill and knowledge of war is important for a prince as described by Machiavelli 54). To defend ones’ country, one has to learn of its advantages and susceptibility to attack as well amass arms when there is peace in preparation for the times of war (Machiavelli 55).
Leaders face numerous instances of both praise and criticism from different parties. A prince ought to observe the good nature of human characters, such as generosity, brevity, and compassion. However, it is not practical to find all the good qualities in one man (Machiavelli 56). Machiavelli proposes for the Prince to be sensible and practical in his speech and actions. Careful consideration is essential, as things might not be what they seem from the surface (Machiavelli 56). To avoid blame and receive praise, the Prince should do what he believes to be the right thing “virtue or vice” as long as the end justifies the means.
The element of open-mindedness and tolerance is another aspect of leadership that contributes to success or failure. Machiavelli proposes that being branded as liberal is a good repute. However, there is a need to be vigilant as being too free can be a challenge to one's leadership as it might as well become the undoing of a great leader (58). According to Machiavelli, the success observed during his time is resultant of the leadership of mean men rather than liberals who spent what they have obtained from other realms rather than the riches of their territories (58).
The issue of popularity in leadership is universal. Some leaders wish to be loved by their subjects while others prefer to be feared but respected. There is a need to focus on the responsibility of the “prince” rather than his popularity. A prince should undertake actions that promote unity and loyalty as in the end; it could prove more of mercy that those who have been consistently merciful, but not achieved any success in their subjects (Machiavelli 61).
The subject of religion is one of the most sensitive matters of leadership that have remained throughout history. It has been necessary, if not compulsory, for the authority to side with a certain faith and be accepted as part of many communities. Machiavelli proposes that the Prince should observe the tenets of his faith only up to the point of interference of his leadership; he should not consistently maintain his faith but must instead result to “craft” as others often do so (Machiavelli, 63).
Authority can attract an assortment of enemies, and this causes the position of a leader to be threatened. A prince should consider his decisions and avoid making choices that would lead to him being hated or despised. He should avoid conspiracies and focus on maintaining the high regard bestowed upon him by his subjects (Machiavelli 67). Machiavelli suggested the above as the qualities of a “prince” and according to his perspective, they would lead to maintaining or increasing power.
Application to Modern Day Politicians
The ex-president of the United States, George W. Bush, embodied the Machiavellian principles of leadership. Some consider this aspect of his leadership to be the reason that President Barrack Obama succeeded him. According to Machiavelli (53), war is justified and even acceptable in protecting the interests of a “princes” subjects; Bush applied this principle when he attacked the Middle East to revenge the September 11th attacks and preserve his power by not showing vulnerability (Coe et al., 197). However, his attack was not focused on the groups responsible, which are Taliban and Al Qaeda (Coe et al., 198). However, it was a display of his power to avoid the resentment of his people, which Machiavelli warns is bad for a “prince” (67). President Bush, during his time, exhibited the element of Machiavellian leadership through limiting liberalism (Machiavelli 58). Some of the issues include overriding immigration and gun control, which have emerged in the recent election campaigns discussions.
The presidential candidate for the Republican Party Donald Trump has also exhibited some elements of the Machiavellian leadership. In his speeches, Trump isolates himself from certain religious groups, such as Muslims in a bid to win the election (Dorell and Durando, par 1). It is an illustration of Machiavellian notions of placing power over religion (63). Some world leaders as that of past dictators consider trump’s political style. He focuses on creating unity and loyalty of the American people by alienating others in a bid to increase his popularity and consequently become the president of the United States in 2017 (Dorell and Durando par.3). Such attitude towards popularity is prescribed in the work of Machiavelli and is considered better than the attitude of liberalism, which he assumes would lead to far-reaching negative consequences on the socio-economic aspects of the United States.
Critique of Advice
In critiquing the advice offered to the Prince by Machiavelli concerning the current politicians, it is essential to consider the place and significance of democracy and globalization as characteristics of the current society in contrast to that of the 16th Century. Currently, trade is at an international position and of more significance than war. Therefore, following the advice of Machiavelli of using resources to acquire skills and knowledge of war and focusing a leader’s efforts on war, it would be misdirecting for modern day leaders because of the 21st Century transformation. Globalization has unified to a significant level the goals of many nations; including the United States. Therefore, isolation of a country today by its leader would be detrimental to the fabric of its socio-economic society.
Democracy is an essential element of the twenty-first century and alienates the leadership requirements of this century from those of the Machiavellian era. Machiavelli suggests that a leader can undertake any course of action that he believes would benefit his people without their consent (60). Today, democracy and the element of freedom to choose are slowly overshadowing authoritarian types of leadership and; thus, leaders are becoming more accountable for their actions towards their subjects. Their decisions are monitored, and they cannot do as they please as suggested in the text (Machiavelli 61).
In the debate on the role of virtue versus vice as qualities of leaders, is important to observe virtue in today’s leadership era. Machiavelli says that in his time, liberal leaders did not see success, but instead it was accorded to those of mean characters who thrived at the cost of other realms (58). It is illustrated by Donald Trump's suggestion to build a wall along the American-Mexican border to prevent the Mexicans from crossing over into the United States in search of a better life (Dorrell and Durando, par.3). It has made Trump as a presidential candidate more dislikable by some world leaders and American citizens who are conscious of the expense of virtues in this course of action. In critiquing the relevance of the text to modern day society, it would be safe to say that the advice is ineffective as isolation and selfishness as qualities of leadership lead to alienation, which is not a good element in a globalized society. The advice might have worked in the times of dictatorship of Hitler’s and Mussolini’s, but not in the twenty-first century.
Conclusion
In summary, Machiavelli’s book suggests the nature of a successful prince. The advice applies to modern leaders in a few ways. The emphasis of war is an integral part of the advice to the Prince; Machiavelli also beseeches the Prince to make careful decisions and not to be swayed by conventional perspectives of whether something is a virtue or a vice. When it comes to granting of rights and freedoms to others, the advice is to do this willingly as it will build the leader’s reputation, power, and control. It is good for a leader to be considered as popular and liberal as long as it does not interfere with his rule or the interests of the leader and his people. Among American political figures who appear to follow in line with the advice of Machiavelli are the former president and the Republican Party presidential candidate George Bush and Donald Trump respectively. Their perspectives of leadership are focused on self-interests and alienating the United States from the rest of the world in its success. However, in the age of globalization and democracy, it is difficult to observe these principles suggested in the text without threatening the opposition of the leader. The advice by Machiavelli to the prince would apply to the modern society of leaders, especially in the United States to a small extent.
Works Cited
Coe, Kevin; David S. Domke, Erica S Graham, and Sue L. John, “Going Public, Crisis after Crisis: The Bush Administration and the Press from September 11 to Saddam” Rhetoric & Public Affairs 10. 2 (2007): 195-220. Print
Dorell, Oren and Durando, Jessica "Like 'Hitler'? How World Leaders See Donald Trump". USA TODAY. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Mar. 2016.
Machiavelli, Niccolo. The Prince. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2005. Print
