During our discussion of Machiavelli this week in class, I noticed how we consistently imagined the author in both his own time period and that of the modern world. There were pieces of advice that would be relevant to a contemporary politician, such as the recommendation to display conviction, and others that would best be ignored (killing off every last descendant of a former leader). However, chapter 18 caught my particular attention because of the way it depicts both rulers and “subjects.” Machiavelli advises a future ruler: “So you should seem to be compassionate, trustworthy, sympathetic, honest, religious, and, indeed, be all these things; but at the same time you should be constantly prepared, so that, if these become liabilities, you are trained and ready to become their opposites.” (54) To me, not only does this suggestion contradict Machiavelli’s denouncement of neutrality, it also guarantees political suicide. The individual described above by Machiavelli is today’s version of a flip-flopper, a politician who acts as a canvas to be painted upon rather than a mindful, opinionated person capable of defending original stances.
It seems to me that in Machiavelli’s time, the general populace did not hold rulers accountable, or perhaps feared to do so; as the author states, a true ruler of any merit would simply quell such opposition. However, in nations throughout the world today, citizens are expected to constantly question their leaders and the actions they take while in office. As I read Machiavelli, especially during the passage above, I couldn’t help but feel insulted. The author refers to his fellow citizens as a sort of deaf-and-dumb collection of dispensable peasants. They certainly aren’t citizens with the right to freedom of expression. Of course, the ruler in Machiavelli’s text has absolute power; his featured form of government is exceedingly different than American democracy, or any current form of leadership. Still, as a man who evidently cherishes his own voice in the political arena, he’s quick to deem the public voiceless and essentially useless to the state.
I appreciate that you brought up the time period- the question of whether or not Machiavelli was truly outdated in his methodology was interesting to discuss in comparison to other historical documents who still find themselves extremely relevant to today's society and governance.
ReplyDeleteIf anything, it has become much more socially acceptable to contradict the "establishment", and Mark Twain has been quoted to say: Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect..and I see that as a real encouragement for those who oppose the majority, and that sort of train of thought would not have been acceptable in Machiavelli's time.