The paper contains the various qualities of political leadership as outlined in “The Prince” by Machiavelli. The first paragraph is a summary containing the writer’s information, the setting of the story, the time and the reason behind the writing of the book. The second paragraph describes the meaning of Machiavellianism and its application in the book; it further justifies the qualities of immorality, being influential and ability to foresee. The second is a continuation of the first, but it emphasizes the meaning of new vocabularies “Fortuna” and “Virtu,” the requirements of making a strong army and the benefits. It looks into the human qualities such as being frank merciful and faithful to subjects.
The subsequent paragraph what the subjects can earn when a King is generous and the expectation for that generosity. Loyalty is seen and considered as the source of respect for the prince. Cruelty is a virtue of avoiding rebellion with a case study on Hannibal and Scipio Africanus. Machiavelli urges the leaders to be aware of the internal and external fears to plan for possible betrayal by subjects. The fourth paragraph is a case study of King Ferdinand of Spain and his application religion in leadership. Laziness should not accompany command as in the case of Italy. Fortune is essential because it shows effort, goodness, and prudence. The final part of the paper is a conclusion with my understanding good leadership, my observation, and view of Machiavelli’s literary work and its application to the contemporary leadership.
Introduction
The prince is an article written by a political theorist and an Italian diplomat, Niccolo Machiavelli. It was innovative even though written in native Italian language; hence it appeared to be a traditional work in the ‘mirrors for princess’ style. The prince is at times said to be the first work of modern political philosophy, where effectual truth is a significant issue. The work was also against the doctrines of the scholars and the dominant Catholic religion on political and ethical issues at that time. Machiavelli did his writings during the period when Italy was under the rule of foreign powers. Even though his work advised on tyranny by the prince, his main aim was to achieve a free republic. He was an upright man and a good citizen. However, his love for liberty amidst the oppression in his country forced him to attack the political situation prevailing in Italy in his writing which made many to think of him as a lousy teacher.
Qualities of Political Leadership
Machiavellianism is a political doctrine that does not advocate for morality in political affairs but justifies deceit in pursuit and maintenance of political power (Dietz, 1986, Pg. 778). Machiavelli in his book, “The Prince” advises on how a productive and successful ruler can stay in power. He discussed the immoral behaviors such as killing the innocent, dishonesty as a standard and efficient means of getting to power. (Dukor, 2015, Pg. 350) He concentrates on the possibility of having a new king basing his arguments on two governments that is the principalities and the republic. Machiavelli directs his arguments to the principalities further dividing them into two, that is the hereditary principality and the new conquered. Machiavelli’s basis of the argument is on the newly conquered trying to figure out how the new prince can get to power and maintain it. He considers mixed states, which are parts of the rule of the new prince but were under the old state. The price might find it difficult ruling such a state.
Therefore, Machiavelli suggests that the new prince should allow in colonies of one’s people to weaken neighboring enemies who may pose a threat to the state (Machiavelli " Viroli, 2008, Pg. 26). Fight the influential people there and ensure they all get down, refuse any foreign power from getting a reputation in that state. He may also ruin them or destroy the lineage of the old prince just as Rome destroyed Carthage, allow them to keep their laws and if possible live with them, so they don’t consider him a stranger. The new prince should be alert, able to tackle both the present and even the future problems, not enjoying the time he should enjoy the benefits of his prudence and virtue. Many times new princes find it difficult to gain control of their new conquers because its new subjects may be rigid to change since they are used to their old ways (Dietz, 1986, Pg. 779). Machiavelli writes that the prince may not be in a position to please everyone, but he has to force his supporters to continue giving him support so that his princedom does not fall. However, once the prince rises to the top, he can clear all his opponents so he can earn due respect from his new subjects just as Machiavelli reveals that Moses did kill his people for the sake of his will.
Machiavelli introduces luck and skill in gaining power introducing two vocabularies of ‘Fortuna’ meaning luck and ‘virtu’ to mean skill or cunning, which is essential for a prince to possess. Machiavelli stresses more on virtu, which is an opportunity for the prince to exploit Fortuna (Machiavelli " Viroli, 2008, Pg. 37). He refers to Fortuna as a woman who needs domination. He later concludes that it is essential that princes who long for success to possess them. A virtuso prince should avoid hiring mercenary soldiers but should compose his army. However, a prince has to be caning so he can manoeuver his ways to power, Machiavelli sites an example of a lucky prince Cesare Borgia who made his ways to power against Orsini brothers using mercenary armies. ( Benner, 2013,Pg. 81) A prince can use immoral and cruel actions to come to power by executing and exploiting his political rivals. However, such a prince should gather all the evil deeds that he needs to use in his conquest early, and use them all at once so that his mission is reachable and be careful to seal his guilt (Rebhorn, 2010, Pg. 27). With time his subjects would get over his wickedness such that he won’t have more problems during his reign just like Agathocles of Syracuse who faced no opposition throughout his reign, writes Machiavelli. Machiavelli states that one can also use a strong army and laws to conquer a territory. The prince should not rely on the help of others but the strength of his soldiers. He should always be ready for battles and should keep his state fortified, so there's no ease of attack on him, but in case of a siege, he should be a motivator to his army (Machiavelli, 2007, Pg.56). Machiavelli strongly discourages the use of mercenaries and auxiliary soldiers because they lack loyalty to their employer, they are cowardly, and they can also turn against their employer that would mean a fall on the prince. He stresses that a prince should always hunt to keep fit, know his territory well including the terrain. Study on the great militants to gain more skill and for intellectual strength. Machiavelli argues that of all the qualities that a prince should have, including being frank, merciful, humane, faithful, he should not be worried having these good traits but he should seem to have them, this is because at times he is forced to act against these qualities deliberately (Rebhorn, 2010, Pg. 23). A prince ideally should be virtuous but at least willing to drop it when it becomes unnecessary.
The generosity of a king to his subjects earns him no appreciation but only invites more. Moreover excess of it becomes uneconomical because it calls for more economical consumption, which leads to increased taxation causing headache to the prince. Machiavelli says that it’s better to hate a king than tiring to build a reputation. He says its better a king gets more reputation of being a cheapskate than hatred for over generosity. A virtuoso prince alienates not his subjects, but he does not prioritize the need to be loved by them but would emphasize the need to be feared by them. Machiavelli supports his statement saying that safekeeping of commitments made in fear, but he warns that fear of one should not lead to the hatred (Petrina, 2016, Pg. 13). As a result of excessive fear; this may be dangerous to the prince. Thirst for fear than love is one of Machiavelli’s most significant ideas, saying that one would worry much-making injuries to one who makes himself feared. A prince can get his subjects loyalty if he gives them protection.
A prince strong enough to give protection to his subjects is also strong enough to gain their fear. He says that the security of a prince is an end, which is fear. Machiavelli argues that prince should respect his subjects’ property; he should have a proper justification to destroy them. As to the state army, absolute fear is the only way to achieve a substantial army without the prince minding on what the troop thinks or say about him (Machiavelli " Viroli, 2008). Furthermore, he should observe cruelty on the troop since it is the only way through which he can command them and receive absolute respect in return. Machiavelli gives examples of two great militants. Hannibal who exercised excessive cruelty and experienced no rebellion and Scipio Africanus who was so merciful to his troop and experienced dissension and army mutiny. A prince should keep his words an illusion; he does not have to indeed do his words except for when it suits his purpose. Otherwise, he should maintain an illusion of his words so that he receives praises from his subjects. Machiavelli remarks that the prince should always appear faithful, he should lie where necessary and in his lies, he should look truthful. Machiavelli also suggests that a prince should be free from hatred and contempt, prince’s conduct earns him more respect making him free from stress. A prince who raises not the noble’s contempt has their subjects satisfied (Machiavelli " Viroli, 2008, Pg. 29). He urges them to have both internal and external fears with inner fear coming from within the kingdom while external from foreign powers. Machiavelli also says that none should trust a fortress since in most cases they fail or rather face betrayal by his subjects.
When a prince achieves a great feat, he is highly honored, giving an example of King Ferdinand of Spain who with the name of religion brought many territories under his rule and kept his subjects busy, so he faced no rebellion (Rebhorn, 2010, Pg. 23). Machiavelli advises princes to support one side, in case there are two battling kingdoms instead of being neutral, this is because when an ally wins, they also gain. However, Machiavelli states that a prince should not ally with a stronger state. The prince is said to appoint good leaders out of his intelligence, which is the kind, that understand things for it. The prince should know discernment so he can choose good leaders from bad ones. Machiavelli writes that the prince should avoid flattery statements since they might prompt rash decisions that may affect the state. Being secretive is also dangerous, they prince should have a council of wise men who would tell him the truth without deceit to earn a reputation before the prince (Dietz, 1986, Pg. 777). He should consider all advice and weigh between a good one and a bad one. As earlier sighted, a new prince can quickly rise to power and get respect corresponding to that of a hereditary prince. Machiavelli argues that most princes who were once dominant in Italy fell because of their laziness. They showed arms defect and were not aware of how to maintain their greatness.
Machiavelli notes that fortune forms part of our actions while the other part is of sweat, virtue, and prudence. Machiavelli states that the most celebrated princes in history were those who took high risk and rose to power through their efforts, goodness and prudence and their flexibility towards varying circumstances (Black, 2010, Pg. 31). He compares fortune to a woman saying one has to be impetuous to beat her down. Machiavelli also compares wealth to a large flowing river that is difficult to control when it floods, however, dams are built during calm seasons to reduce its effects. He is trying to indicate that fortune affects those areas where no precaution is made to minimize them including Italy. Italians have left themselves in the fate of fortune and God.
In conclusion, Machiavelli is ideally trying to show how religion had made Italians careless and insensitive to their politics. He shows how the rulers have lost the state to foreign domination by ignoring their military and political principles. Machiavelli argues that most of the human affairs rely on fortune while free will controls the rest giving the prince an opportunity to take action. However, a few princes can succeed in the times. He provides possible suggestions on how a great prince should conduct himself, including the use of immoral means and a strong army to free Italy from foreign domination. His ideas on how to increase power and honor have greatly influenced political leadership in the western nations. He called his literary writing as Machiavellianism.
References
Benner, E., 2013. Machiavelli's Prince: a new reading. Oxford University Press, pp.81-82
Black, R., 2010. Machiavelli in the Chancery. The Cambridge Companion to Machiavelli, pp.31-47.
Dietz, M.G., 1986. Trapping the Prince: Machiavelli and the politics of deception. American Political Science Review, 80(3), pp.777-799.
Dukor, M. ed., 2015. Philosophy and Politics: Discource on Values, Politics, and Power in Africa. Malthouse Press, pp.350
Machiavelli, N. and Viroli, M., 2008. The prince (Vol. 43). Oxford University Press.
Machiavelli, N., 2007. Niccolo Machiavelli's The prince on the art of power: the new illustrated edition of the Renaissance masterpiece on leadership.
Petrina, A., 2016. Machiavelli in the British Isles: two early modern translations of the Prince. Routledge.
