| Machiavelli: Prince of Politicians? |
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Part 3: Modern-Day Parallels
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"Ci potete credere cosa accade con l'elezione? È stupefacente!"
JOESTOE5
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A liberal translation of Il Principe suggests Machiavelli may have even foreseen events similar to the election fiasco in Florida. Some observers have pointed out that if neither Al Gore or George W. Bush receives a majority of the electoral votes or if there is a tie, there could be a president from one party and a vice president from the other. Machiavelli had this to say on that possibility:
"...possé fare, se non chi è volle papa, almeno che non fussi chi non voleva."
Il Principe, Capitolo VII
"..If he could not have made Pope him whom he wished, at least the one whom he did not wish would not have been elected."
The Prince, Chapter VII
From the start, political pundits commenting on the U.S. presidential election focused on Gov. George W. Bush's reliance on the reputation of his father, the former president, his choice of staff, many of whom were members of the previous Bush administration, and the possibility that his brother Jeb Bush, governor of Florida, may have unduly swayed the election in George W.'s favor. Machiavelli seemed to have anticipated this as well:
"...perché non è figliuoli del principe vecchio sono eredi e rimangono signori, ma colui che è eletto a quel grado da coloro che ne hanno autorità. Et essendo questo ordine antiquato, non si può chiamare principato nuovo, perché in quello non sono alcune di quelle difficultà che sono ne' nuovi; perché, se bene el principe è nuovo, li ordini di quello stato sono vecchi et ordinati a riceverlo come se fussi loro signore ereditario."
Il Principe, Capitolo XIX
"..because the sons of the old prince not the heirs, but he who is elected to that position by those who have authority, and the sons remain only noblemen. And this being an ancient custom, it cannot be called a new principality, because there are none of those difficulties in it that are met with in new ones; for although the prince is new, the constitution of the state is old, and it is framed so as to receive him as if he were its hereditary lord."
The Prince, Chapter XIX
Another area of contention concerning the election is the Electoral College itself. Both political parties are working furiously to question the validity of certain electors. Il Principe seems to predict the actions of partisan Congressional members, many of whom have threatened to stall or block any attempts at asserting a mandate if the opposing parties candidate were ultimately to win the battle of the ballots:
"...ridurre el Collegio più suo che poteva...è gentili uomini romani si aveva guadagnati, e nel Collegio aveva grandissima parte;"
Il Principe, Capitolo VII
"..by converting the college more to himself...he had won over the Roman gentlemen, and he had the most numerous party in the college."
The Prince, Chapter VII
Lessons to be Learned
The Prince was written for a very specific purpose during the Italian Renaissance. Nicolò Machiavelli's ideal prince was an amoral and calculating tyrant capable of unifying Italy. Over the centuries, unfortunately, without benefit of the historical context in which it was written, it brought him a reputation of amoral cynicism and immoral manipulation.
Instead, Il Principe focuses on a suggested code of conduct for rulers and a description of a leader's character and personality. Machiavelli's underlying theme was that freedom is at risk when corruption is prevalent and that there is need for good laws and leaders in a free society. He also suggested a remedy for corruption, the urgent need to punish corrupt leaders, the role of the people in maintaining a good state, and how corrupt leaders discredit their governments.
It may not be too late for Al Gore and George W. Bush to remember their Italian lessons.
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