Machiavelli in the Prince, Machiavelli

Machiavelli In the Prince, Machiavelli offers a guide for effective, pragmatic leadership. Rebelling against the lofty and religious ideal of a ruler who exhibits compassion, Machiavelli advocates a far more ruthless and utilitarian approach to leadership. The new prince is one who is guided by expediency over ethics. However, the new prince invariably wins over the loyalty of his subjects by invoking deep respect borne of fear.

Military prowess is also a cornerstone of the new prince's leadership, who strategically assures the success of his kingdom not necessarily through aggression but via strategic manipulation. The new prince also engenders trust among his people, a trust which serves the nation well in times of war because of the efficacy of obedience and loyalty. The new Renaissance prince garners much wisdom from classical rulers, ushering in a new era of strong central leadership.

The main features that distinguish the new Machiavellian prince from previous or contemporary rulers are based on an underlying utilitarian political philosophy. The new prince is unabashedly self-serving. However, even as he seeks to do what is in his own best interest, the new prince takes care to not misuse his wealth or power. In order to garner the trust and respect of the people, the new prince conceals his selfishness, relying on temperance, moderation, and common sense rather than on ostentatiousness.

Moderation is not an expression of ethics, as the new prince, unlike the old, does not base his leadership on morality or religiosity. The new prince rules entirely devoid of religion; Machiavellian rule marks one of the most clear-cut political philosophies that divorces church from state. In fact, morality can serve as the downfall of the new prince. Too much compassion can lead to weakness according to Machiavelli.

While the new prince cares for the well-being of his subjects, he does so mainly because a contented public translates into lack of political dissent. Machiavelli also clearly distinguishes between utilitarian and foolish forms of ethical virtue: when virtue benefits the state, the new prince is virtuous. If virtue only bolsters the spiritual merit of the leader or assuages his conscience, then the ruler is foolish. The new prince is therefore a self-confident leader who effectively wields power through swift decisiveness.

By alluding to the great rulers of ancient Greece and Rome such as Alexander, Machiavelli notes how the new prince can seek to expand his territorial realms and take over existing nations. To do this the new prince relies heavily on strategic warfare rather than sheer brute force. The new prince's military strategy is as much intellectual as it is physical. The new prince gets to know any culture he tries to overtake, and plans his military strategies accordingly and should even be willing to live in foreign lands.

For example, if the new prince were to take over a democracy, he would have to completely devastate and destroy the country; otherwise, the populace so used to liberty and freedom would resent their new leader. On the other hand, to take over a nation that had lived under tyrannical rule would be relatively straightforward. The new prince also plans.