The major contention of Machiavelli’s most significant literary and political work is that, in order to maintain his position of power, a new prince (such as Lorenzo) must be as actively involved in politics as is practical. Because doing otherwise runs the risk of him losing touch with reality and, more crucially, the community, his political action must be grounded on reality rather than idealistic plans.
The prince must demonstrate his ability to wield authority and earn the respect of his own subjects if he is to pick between being liked and loathed, which is why he must choose the latter. Machiavelli contends that the prince must possess virtue in order to do this.
This is an important word because, in Machiavelli’s view, virtue has a new meaning. It actually implies resourceful and, if necessary, unethical rather than “morally upright.” According to Machiavelli, the prince is like the fox (sly) and the lion (violent), but only when it is required. It is better to appear to be devout, humanitarian, and kind than to truly be such: immorality and dishonesty are vital. The leader in Machiavelli is like a chameleon, ready to change colour when it is practical.
It is crucial to reiterate that Machiavelli was not evil or cunning only for its own purpose, but rather for the benefit of properly governing a nation. Politics is the world of treachery, and a ruler must be immoral, dishonest, and crafty if he wants to live and rule his own state.
“The end justifies the means”
Unfortunately, a lot of people misinterpreted Machiavelli’s text. Intellectuals and theologians accused him of immorality and impiety in the 16th and 17th centuries, which is when the expression “the purpose justifies the means” first appeared. The very words used here betray Machiavelli’s advice: “Yes, you must be ruthless, but your ruthlessness is not for the sake of it, but is required by the circumstances.”
Machiavelli emphasizes realism above evil. You must be evil, but evil is not the default state. It makes sense why politicians had different opinions. Elizabeth I conducted herself as Machiavelli advised. She criticized him and called him evil in public, but in private, she kept a copy of The Prince by her bedside. It is preferable to appear than to be
Why Machiavelli is still relevant today?
His thinking has had a significant impact on the Realism school of international relations theory. According to realism, states engage in full-fledged combat to maintain their positions of power rather than trying to be kind to one another. If politicians want to survive in a place where there are no rules, they will have to adopt a realist mindset.
However, Machiavelli’s influence is not limited to international relations; modern politics is a living example of his ideas. We frequently observe politicians waving and kissing crucifixes or rosaries because religious devotion is a highly effective strategy for winning over potential supporters. Matteo Salvini of Italy has been travelling the country while carrying a copy of the Gospel and a rosary, and he recently said that religious symbols and figures should never be satirised. Donald Trump frequently refers awkwardly to the Bible as his guide. Promising to protect traditional family values and Christian ideals has become a cliché in politics. In that context Machiavelli is still relevant today.
