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Unit 5: Niccolo Machiavelli

focused the attention of his readers on the international arena which was more prone to conflicts Notes
of interests and forces of ambition and passion than domestic politics. This was because the
international arena lacked arbitrating arrangements such as law and institutional procedures, a
point reiterated by Hegel.
In the domestic arena, the presence of political institutions, the rule of law and norms of civilized
conduct helped in regulating human behaviour, thereby reducing the instances where force and
fear would have to be applied. Once again, he stressed the importance of the republican form of
government, for people’s participation constituted a form of social power, which if dealt with
properly, would reduce the use of violence in a society. A republican government was maintained
and sustained by the power of its people, rather than by exerting force over them. People’s
identification and participation in the system would economize the employment of violence, which
was why the prince should cultivate and secure people’s support. Machiavelli very rightly asserted
that only a weak regime would intensify the use of violence and cruelty. If far-reaching changes
were brought about consensually, then the human costs would be very minimal.

Advice to the Prince
Machiavelli cautioned the prince against excessive generosity, strictness or kindness, and stressed
the need for moderate behaviour. A prince had to be gentle or severe depending on the situation.
His relationship with his subjects was similar to the one between a father and his children. A
prince had to be strong, and demonstrate his strength whenever necessary. He had to govern his
state responsibly and efficiently, ensuring its stability and survival. He had to retain the upper
hand and initiative at all times. He had to be held in awe, if not fear. He had to be careful in
selecting the methods and means by which he ruled. He had to uphold conventional standards of
morality and notions of right by preserving the foundations of religion.
The prince had to abstain from the property and women of his subjects, for these matters, if
violated, affected men’s sensibilities, driving them to the point of resistance. A prince had to select
his officers and advisers carefully, should not hesitate to purge those who had been disloyal. The
ruler had to constantly try and expand the state’s territory and play the balance of power game
skilfully by appearing to be the defender of weaker states. Machiavelli advised the prince to adopt
a policy of coalition rather than remain isolated, for neutrality was impossible both domestically
and internationally. It would be better to support one side and wage an honest war; otherwise one
became prey to the victor or got isolated in a later crisis. The best thing to do was to join a weak
rather than a strong state, for in case of a common victory the gains would be marginal, but the
losses would be low in case of a common defeat.
Machiavelli insisted on the need for legal remedies against official abuses in order to prevent
illegal violence. A prince, in order to succeed, had to be willing to act ruthlessly, combining the
valour and courage of a lion with the cunning and shrewdness of a fox. This was because a lion
could ward off wolves and a fox could recognize traps. A ruler had to be courageous to fight his
enemies, and cunning enough to detect conspiracies. He could do this only if he could change his
colours like a chameleon, for in a corrupt age greatness could be achieved only by immoral means.
A prince had to know to fight with the help of laws and force. While laws were for civilized
persons, force was for the brutes. Both represented two different styles of fighting and could be
combined, if necessary, to achieve effective results. Force was necessary since the individual was
wretched and dishonourable.
Furthermore, Machiavelli pointed out that princes ought to exterminate the families of the rulers
whose territories they wished to possess securely. Opponents ought to be murdered otherwise
they could plan their revenge. True liberality consisted in being stingy with one’s own property
but generous with that of others, a prudent use of virtue and vice in order to be happy, conferring
benefits little by little so that they would be appreciated more strongly, never to leave a defeated

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