Niccolo Machiavelli on Power

Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung Working Paper No. 149

28 Pages Posted: 23 Jan 2007

See all articles by Manfred J. Holler

Manfred J. Holler

University of Hamburg - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration

Date Written: January 2007

Abstract

This paper uses the concept of power to analyze Machiavelli's The Prince and the Discourses on the First Ten Books of Titus Livius. This helps to distill the elements that form the Machiavelli program that has its short-term aim in the formation of a national state of Italy. A unification of Italy under the umbrella of a princely family (such as identified with Cesare Borgia) was meant to be the first stage in an evolutionary process which, in the end, could lead to a more or less stable republican system. For the latter, the Roman Republic as described in the Discourses is Machiavelli's model. The use of power, but also the minimization of cruelties, and the participation of the people, either in the form of militia to successfully fight foreign armies or to support the princely government, are major ingredients to this process.

Suggested Citation

Holler, Manfred J., Niccolo Machiavelli on Power (January 2007). Beiträge zur Wirtschaftsforschung Working Paper No. 149, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=956093 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.956093

Manfred J. Holler (Contact Author)

University of Hamburg - Faculty of Economics and Business Administration ( email )

Von-Melle-Park 5
Hamburg, 20146
Germany

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