Machiavellis Prince: Relevance Today - Essay Example

Machiavelli’s Prince: Relevance Today. Machiavelli’s Prince is intended to be a practical guide for the Renaissance rulers of sixteenth century Italy. As such, its relevance, as a whole, to today’s modern world is debatable. As it is directed towards the absolute, autocratic rule of principalities, it does not contain much application for the largely well-informed, democracy-inclined, internet-connected citizens of the twenty-first century. However, Machiavelli’s treatise contains several valuable pointers as to the ideal characters of a neophyte ruler.

Personally, as the ruler of my own country, I would adopt Machiavelli’s recommendation to maintain foresight and flexibility of character, and some of his guidelines on the virtues of a wise ruler. I would disregard his instructions regarding the ruthless consolidation of power through fear. I agree with Machiavelli’s stand that Fortune, or chance, is not the complete arbiter of the destiny of the ruler and the state. Pure chance dictates the terms only when “barriers and defences have not been raised to constrain her” (Machiavelli, XXV).

Machiavelli’s comparison of fortune to a river in spate is a very apt illustration of the virtue of foresight in a ruler. The ruler who builds dykes and canals “when the weather becomes fair” (Machiavelli, XXV), can harness the power of the flood for good, and neuter its destructive power. Machiavelli’s advice to the ruler to be prepared for any eventuality is definitely something I can identify with. As a ruler, foresight and flexibility will be invaluable tools to retain power. This can extend from building up defenses against perceived terrorist threats, to providing for future fuel shortage by finding alternative energy sources.

Machiavelli’s guidance on the characteristics of a wise ruler is often very relevant even today. His caution against the excess clemency, which would “allow disorders to arise, from which follow murders or robberies” (Machiavelli, XVII), holds good in the face of the lawlessness which can plague poorly policed modern cities. Law enforcement must never be compromised. I particularly admire Machiavelli’s advice to the ruler “to be a great pretender and dissembler” (Machiavelli, XVIII).

I would interpret this as a form of modern day diplomacy, which would definitely be an asset to me as a ruler! Maintaining the facade of being “merciful, faithful, humane, upright, and religious” (Machiavelli, XVIII) would serve to gain a good reputation. In this context, I would definitely follow Machiavelli’s exhortations to patronize the arts, encourage commerce and agriculture, and provide entertainment for my subjects, as all this will serve to keep them happy with my rule. The ruthless consolidation of power through fear is the main part of Machiavelli’s advice that I would disregard.

I do not accept Machiavelli’s assertion that people can be ruled “by a dread of punishment” (XVII) alone. Machiavelli bases his recommendation on his perception of one’s subjects as “ungrateful, fickle, false, cowardly, covetous” (XVII). This is not true of the modern world. The high levels of literacy and education, and the myriad means of communication, from Facebook to Twitter, make repression an outdated means of retaining power. Egypt remains a potent current example of overthrown tyranny.

As the ruler of my own country, I would make preparations of all contingencies. I would develop a flexibility of character which would enable me to adopt appropriate strategies according to the varying circumstances. I would make the effort to garner good publicity, and gain “the reputation of being a great and remarkable man” (Machiavelli, XXI), as this would definitely earn me the support of my subjects. On the other hand, I would dispense with using repression and tyranny as my tools of power, as these will prove short-lived in the modern world.