Lecture Notes: Machiavelli's Principles of Governance

Types of States

• Nation state classifications:
  • Republic or Principality
  • Old (hereditary) or New
• Old hereditary states:
  • Easy to rule
  • Example: Monarchies
  • Can be taken by destroying the entire royal family (e.g., Alexander the Great & Persian Empire)
• New states:
  • Difficult to take and hold onto
  • Easier if personally supervised
  • States with a history of freedom must be crushed

Becoming and Retaining a Prince

• Steps to rise to a prince:
  • Follow historical examples
  • Be well-armed
• Securing a new state:
  • Destroy all resistance using firm, swift cruelty
  • Gradually give benefits to the people
  • Win public favor and dispel hostility
  • Raise and maintain own army (not mercenaries or foreign armies)

Qualities of a Successful Prince

• Education:
  • Study history and warfare
  • Know the land
• Appearance and reality:
  • Appear good but know how to be evil
  • Do not fear being seen as mean
  • Fear over generosity (leads to ruin)
  • Utilize cunning and deception
  • Aim to be feared rather than loved but avoid hatred
• Governance:
  • Encourage arts, commerce, and agriculture
  • Use capable servants, avoid flatterers
  • Be purposeful and unwavering

Practical Examples and Historical References

• Mehmed the Conqueror:
  • Conquered Constantinople
  • Made it the Ottoman capital
  • Settling there increased security
• Louis XII of France:
  • Failed in Italy due to missteps
  • Allied too strongly with the Pope
  • Increased power of others, weakening own position

Machiavelli's Recommendations

• Presence in New Territory:
  • Be on the spot to manage directly
  • Being engaged is crucial even if physical presence is impossible today
  • Immediate problem-solving prevents escalation
• Neutrality and Decision Making:
  • Avoid neutrality; it signals weakness
  • Take decisive actions
  • Pick allies wisely (avoid more powerful allies)
• Historical Figures:
  • Agathocles and Oliverotto da Fermo used wickedness to gain power
  • Critiques of Scipio Africanus (too lenient) and praise for Hannibal (feared)

Key Maxims

• On Cruelty:
  • Use it effectively but restrict it to one instance; avoid continuous cruelty
  • Benefits should be gradually given
• On Fear and Love:
  • Safer to be feared than loved
  • Ensure fear does not turn into hatred
  • Punish decisively but avoid confiscating property

Summary Insights

• Leadership:
  • Combine human and beastly qualities (wise like a fox, strong like a lion)
  • Contextual behavior: adapt to situations, balancing compassion and authoritarianism
  • Understand power dynamics: maintain own strength, control alliances, avoid empowering others too much