Machiavelli's The Prince and Relevance to the Contemporary World - Assignment Example

Machiavelli’s The Prince and Relevance to the Contemporary World Introduction The contemporary world is unsettling as well as dynamic. In other words, it is unsettling precisely due to the fact that it is so dynamic. The theoretical along with an experimental investigation of nature and rapid development of technical invention and innovation, in addition to the sustained increase in material productivity that first emerged in the Western world has spread tremendously to other parts of the world. Currently, it is very hard to find a community that has not been affected by these developments. Some of the things that were found to have a profound effect in the traditional world have also been found to touch the contemporary world. Culture and political power have played a major role in the shaping of the contemporary world. The Prince is considered as one of the finest works of modern philosophy by the political theorist Niccolo Machiavelli. He was an Italian diplomat born in Florence in 1469. As the defence secretary of the Florentine republic, he was involved in various diplomatic missions from 1494 to 1512 in numerous European courts. He died on June 22, 1527 at Florence. Therefore, Machiavelli played a crucial part in the development of international relations. To that effect, drawing on a variety of sources, the paper will discuss the manner in which Machiavelli’s The Prince is still relevant to the modern world. Discussion 500 years after it was authored, the Prince remains as relevant as ever in the modern world. The article is the first modern treatise on political science. It is a manual for those people who want to win and keep power. As the title suggests, The Prince offers guidelines to princes to follow so as to succeed in the leadership craft. The recent manifestations of leaders being re-elected locally and internationally many times relate to Machiavelli termed as how leaders can attain and sustain power. There is a notable correlation between power and leadership. According to Rudowski (1992, p.18), leadership is often conceived as an exercise of power. Leadership and power have often been utilized to influence the behaviour of people. Machiavelli was able to challenge the preconceived notions of government and ways of ruling. He claimed that to be successful, a leader is supposed to act justly and in accordance with the Bible (Machiavelli, 2009, p.19). Most of the leaders in the contemporary world have different traits. Basing on their leadership styles, some leaders are a friend of the people and a real idol to their followers who see them as role models such as renowned African leader Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., and Sir Winston Churchill. Next, diplomacy is still relevant to the current world. During Machiavelli’s time, diplomacy was common in the Italian cities and was regarded as paramount for the survival of the city states. In today’s world, diplomacy is now more institutionalised and is a key element in international relations. Leung (2003, p.10) argues that diplomacy has become the conventional way for nations to conduct talks relating to conflict resolution, trade, nuclear disarmament, and many other contentious topics. In fact, most nations prefer to conduct diplomatic talks in the event of a conflict instead of using military means. In the recent times, the United States has been engaged with Iran and South in diplomatic talks with regard to nuclear disarmament. The ambassadors are the physical embodiment of the state and they usually behave in a way that will assist the country in the acquisition of more power and influence the state during these diplomatic talks. Furthermore, the ‘bandwagon’ approach that Machiavelli illustrates as the phenomenon of the stronger power acting as the defender and ally of the weaker powers shows the behavioural norm in the current international relations (Machiavelli, 2009. p.41). One can have a look at the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, France, and China as having stronger powers. With specific focus to the U.S, it is the globe’s most powerful nation and has assumed the responsibility to defend and support the weaker nations, for instance, supporting Cuba in trade, Iraq and Afghanistan against terrorist organizations, and Mexico against drug cartels among many others. The U.K and China have also supported various nations that are considered as weak in promoting trade. It is entirely correct for Machiavelli’s assessment that geographical proximity plays a very crucial role in the formation of alliances. International trade usually promotes corporation among various nations. The preferential trade agreements are common and continue to grow. There are various perfect examples of this practice in today’s world, including the European Union, ASEAN-China Free Trade Area, Gulf Cooperation Council, North American Free Trade Agreement, Southern African Development Community, and the European Free Trade Association among others. Due to the close proximity of the member states, these alliances make sense in relation to the movement of goods and services, deployment of troops in case of an armed attack on one of their members, and the free movement of a common currency. America and Canada among many others are allies due to the proximity of the two nations. As a consequence, Machiavelli’s belief that diplomacy plays a very vital role in international relations, and directly helps in maintaining the state as reflected in the tumultuous times of the Renaissance Italy is applicable to the current practices in international relations. On the other hand, nations that are far from each can rarely form alliances. In the formation of treaties whereby nations reduce the possibility of foreign threats, the law of nations is followed (Machiavelli, 2009, p.67). In the contemporary world, nations have formed beneficial alliances to increase their defence on the international level. More to the point, Machiavelli found out that rewards and punishments are not opposites, but overlap each other. Today, nations manoeuvre the international situation by controlling the flow of rewards expressed primarily in terms of aid and trade. Most nations have withdrawn their aid to Syria to show their position on the war situation in the country. The U.S gives Latin American nations help in the form of foreign aid and in return enjoyed full political support in the United Nations from them. Next, Machiavelli recognised the maintenance of law and order as ideal in the formation of strong states. Currently, every state has a judiciary system that maintains law and order. There are also international laws. Machiavelli cites the example of the Rome violating the law of nations respecting the conduct of ambassadors (Machiavelli, 2009, p.223). Today, the International law spells out what is allowed and not allowed on a global scale to the governments involved. The U.N Security Council has come with laws that are to be adhered to by all members of the United Nations. The Prince, a sixteenth-century political treatise is concerned with dictatorial regimes. In the contemporary world, autocratic regimes still exist. Its dictatorial leaders rule with fear and love. Machiavelli claims, “It is a bit safer to be feared than to be loved” (32). Fear so as to be respected and love in order to create cohesion among the people that they rule. This is evident in the authoritarian regimes. The leaders are a pain to the people as they abuse power by forcefully dictating rules making people loathe their leadership style. Perfect examples for these autocratic leaders include Idi Amni Dada, Kim Jong-II, and Sadam Hussein. They can be viewed as not acting as a good ‘prince.’ In chapter 18, Machiavelli shares the view that evil is inherent in every man; a leader that does not inspire fear so as to preserve the state together with its security will fail. He writes, “If not utterly crushed, men can be revenge (Machiavelli, 2009, p. 34). Also, Machiavelli justifies tyrannical behaviour. Regions that have continuous political instability and conflict are often ruled by dictators. In the recent times, North Korea, Bolivia, and Somalia have experienced autocratic leadership due to political instability in the nations. The downfall of these princes is doing things that resulted in hatred, including confiscation of property, looting, and killing against the desire of the populace. In the 21st century, Machiavelli’s theories continue to pervade the modern discussion on politics. Niccolo is often being referred as the ‘father of modern politics.’ In the Prince, the author puts emphasis on prudence as a leader’s best decision making tool (Rudowski , 1992, p.18). This is choosing the less bad as the best option. In chapter 17, Machiavelli argues that leaders need not to be limited by morality and should be able to use force, lies, and sometimes deception if required. President Mugabe has laid the blame on western powers for the economic woes faced by the country. With this deception, he has been able to rule the country for more than three decades. A leader may be honest and moral, but if he initiates a war that later proves to be unnecessary and kills scores of people, he lacks virtue. Muamar Gaddafi was a good leader but started a war that killed many Libyans and is considered as a man of no virtue. The final sections of the book explain the failure of some Italian rules and the author makes an impassioned plea to the future leaders. He urges the current leaders to influence mutual respect, dependence, and trustworthiness, avoid hatred to his people, and functioning in a purposeful and orderly manner in circumstances of uncertainty. Machiavelli was an archetypical realist. The modern realists believe in playing the game as it is. They believe that international politics is neither immoral nor moral. Most of the leaders in the current world simply protect the status quo along with the order of the system, whilst keeping their nations prosperous and strong. Germany and Japan increased their national power from the ashes of 1945. In today’s world, democracy is widespread. Parts of Machiavelli’s advices are applicable to democracies. Democracy entails acting on what best suits the public interests. Machiavelli provides a practical and easily understood advice in simple prose and straightforward logic to provide relevance on what suits the public’s interest. According to some war historians, the U.S failed in the Vietnamese war because it was not in the interest of the public. However, President Kennedy’s administration and proponents of the Vietnam War argued that by turning the Vietnamese nation into a communist state it would imply that the anti-communists would be losing the Cold War. However, they were directly following Machiavellian perspective of ruthlessness, deceit, and spying to justify the ruthless attack. States need to make decisions with public interest as the first priority. Machiavelli shares the view that leaders are supposed to be ready to alter the tactics together with ideas when required. Machiavelli (2009, p.43) says that things in some instances occur to make it necessary to abandon the preconceived plans. Nobody denies that this is true in the contemporary world as it was during Machiavelli’s time. For example, in the wake of the fight against terrorism, most nations have shelved their political differences and come together to fight terrorism. Recently, the U.S sent more than 400 non-combatant military personnel to Iraq to offer expertise to the Iranian army in order to fight the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The group is held responsible for war crimes and abuse of human rights by the United Nations, with Amnesty International reporting ethnic cleansing on a historic scale. Designated as a militant terrorist organisation, the group currently has control in regions occupied by more than 10 million people in Syria and Iraq in addition to having affiliates in other parts of the world including Nigeria, Libya, and South East Asia (Weaver, 2015). Even though initially the American, Turkish, French, and British governments were calling for the resignation of President Bashar al-Assad of Syria due to the atrocities committed by his regime, the emergence of ISIL has resulted in the leaders of these same nations to back Al-Assad’s government in the fight against this terror group. It can be evidenced that in deed leaders can leave their preconceived plans as a result of a particular event. Machiavelli said that this can make the leader to abandon the initial plan and engage in the current plan. Economic stability is a precondition for domestic and international stability. Machiavelli’s vision was equilibrium among competing interests locally and internationally. He criticized wealth inequality. Mesa (2014, p. 126) asserts that the domestic affairs within nations should be stable so as to ensure the international system creates equality among states, and provide the conditions for democracy. Machiavelli takes into consideration the stable domestic affairs to be the precondition to the stability of international relations. Machiavelli’s sentiments are applicable to the modern world because he attaches the balance of power in social and economic terms and its stabilising impact on the anarchical international system. The elemental need for the equilibrium of interests within a country on the economic and social level is also applicable to the relations between nations on the international level. In Machiavelli’s opinion, there is a need for social and economic balance of power that keeps equality among nations and offers the conditions for democracy on the international level. Jackson, Jackson, and Sørensen (2012, p.79) point out that Machiavelli’s renaissance statecraft was based on instrumental realism, opportunism, luck, strength, security and survival. As cited by Leung (2002, pp. 5-7), on their own volition, the states can defend themselves from foreign threats. Every nation today has a security mechanism that enable her defend herself from external attacks. However, Machiavelli argues that as the reputation of a state grows, its security also increased. Developed nations like the U.K, America, Japan, Canada, and Germany has higher levels of security as compared to the developing nations, such as Mexico, Brazil, Nigeria, and India. Machiavelli suggests that the foreign policy makers ought to behave in manner that demonstrates civic virtue. This means taking into consideration the needs of the people which the policy is going to affect. In other words, the fundamental point of Machiavelli is the survival as well as flourishing of the nation. In today’s world, most nations are trying to survive and flourish by means of their military might and economic power, which makes them to have increased political power and influence. As an example, the recent resurgence of the Chinese economy has propelled the nation to the summit and it is a major participant in decisions made by other nations in relation to the global foreign relations. Therefore, Machiavelli’s views form the basis of how leaders propel their countries to international level and operate on a global scale. Conclusion In summary, Machiavelli’s The Prince is still relevant in the contemporary world with regard to the modern culture and politics. The article is a guide to a leadership as well as ways of governing. His views are sound for an effective just and democratic leader. His views on alliances are also applicable to today’s world with the formation of free trade agreements between nations in close geographical proximity. The formation of alliances leads to greater defence and security capabilities of the state, thus promoting trade and reducing the threat of foreign attacks. Next, leaders can use diplomacy to solve conflicts and other contentious issues are currently being used in the nuclear weapons talks between various nations across the globe. The diplomatic talks have a direct effect on the power along with the reputation of the state. Machiavelli’s thoughts and observations in the book, The Prince about international relations are truly timeless. They not only reflect the political situation during his time, but also remains a true reflection of the current practices of international relations in the contemporary world. Current states have survived and expanded internationally because they are autonomous sovereign states. In an environment that is competitive in the economic, social, and political sense both at domestic and international level, there is need for equilibrium among these conflicting areas. Political, economic, and social equilibrium should be attained among the competing nations, or else the preconditions of the democratic states would not be existence. In Machiavelli’s opinion, the state needs to behave in a way that it benefits the public. States need to act in the name of self-interest so as to attain the goals of increasing power and maintaining security. In such an environment, the state is supposed to maintain domestic strength through a central government, united country, nationalised army, and a sense of loyalty and love towards the country. It is only in this way that the foundation of strong and united countries have been able to be formed today. References List Jackson, Robert, Jackson, Robert, and Sørensen, Geroge. 2012. Introduction to International Relations: Theories and Approaches. New York: Oxford University Press. Leung, Janice. 2002. Machiavelli and International Relations Theory. London: Sage. Machiavelli, Niccolo. 2009. The Prince. Plano: Randy Dillon. Mesa, Marco. 2014. Machiavelli on International Relations. London: Oxford University Press. Rudowski, Victor Anthony. 1992. The Prince: A Historical Critique. New York: Twaynw Publishers, 1992. Weaver, Mary, Anne. 2015, April 19. Her Majesty’s Jihadists. Retrieved June 17, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/19/magazine/her-majestys-jihadists.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=photo-spot-region®ion=top-news&WT.nav=top-news Read More