" ("Selections from the Prince" 281) What this shows, is that those leaders who engage the citizens in conquered territories by allowing them to maintain their laws will perceive the Prince to be weak. In order to rule effectively, the Prince must show that he is a strong leader. This is significant, because it highlights how the ideal leader is: someone who will show what they mean through actions. Once this take place, the conquered citizens of the Prince will have respect for his rule and policies.
This has caused debate as to if the ideas of Machiavelli are more humanist or from a realist perspective. This is challenging, because he shows the importance of having a strong central government that will protect the general public. However, the tactics that he advocates using to achieve this objective are: questionable at best.
As a result, Machiavelli is not a humanist, where he advocates that the Prince protects his reign of power at all costs. With him believing that the ideal ruler should be someone who rules from a position of fear. This is because those rulers who have ruled from a more humanist approach (by offering the citizens generous social benefits); will be popular during times of economic prosperity and peace. Once a war or some kind of crisis begins (which causes economic activity to slow) is when the Prince must engage in draconian measures when it comes to the budget. Where, they have a choice between providing various social services or protecting the state from the event that they are facing (such as: a war or a severe economic slowdown). Once this takes place, is when rulers will more than likely engage in actions to protect the state. This means that the different social programs...
At which point, the citizens will revolt and the security of state is facing threats from within, as well as from external events. Once this takes place, the odds increase dramatically that the Prince could lose power. To avoid these kinds of situations, Machiavelli believes that the ideal ruler should be feared and respected by citizens. This means, that whatever decisions that the Prince makes will be for the benefit of the state. Therefore, the citizens must accept these decisions without question. A good example of this can be seen with Machiavelli saying, "Never hesitate to incur the reproach of those vices without which his authority can hardly be preserved; for he will consider the whole matter, he will find that there may be a line of conduct having the appearance of virtue, to follow which would be his ruin, and that there may be another course having the appearance of vice, by following which his safety and well being are secured." (Sayre 601) This is significant because it is showing, how those rulers who engage in socially popular programs will be loved during times of prosperity. Once the situation changes is when the citizens will turn on them. As a result, their job is to always appear to be moral, while beneath the surface they limit the overall amounts of policies that are popular with the people. Over the course of time, this will ensure the stability of the state and help rulers be able to maintain power.
Bibliography
Sayre, Henry. "Cultural Parallels." The Humanities: Culture, Continuity & Change. Book 3: The Renaissance and the Age of Encounter. Prentice-Hall, 2008: 600-601. Print.
"Selections from the Prince."
