Concepts and Principles of Machiavellis Political Teaching

Concepts and principles of Machiavellis political teaching
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Introduction
Living through the years 1469 to 1527, NiccolÓ Machiavelli was one of the most accomplished Italian politicians who doubled as a poet, civil servant, playwright, military theorist and historian. Born to the Machiavellis, who were a middle class family, Machiavelli was well educated in the humanistic studies, while his father was a doctor of law. Machiavelli had been born into a country that was experiencing shifting power struggles and fights with its neighbors that wanted to invade Italy. At the time, Spain and France were some of the neighbors that wanted to bring down the state of Italy. During the time that he worked for the government in his career, he was imprisoned and tortured a few time. As an avid literally writer, it was during this turbulent times that Machiavelli came up with some of the theories that he felt were crucial to having a powerful nation. Most of his theories were politically inspired given his career and service to the people of Florence and Italy as a whole. Other than power Machiavelli also had some very intriguing thoughts on the nature of man, social values, international relations, conflict and corruption, government and politics as well as significance and influence. He also gave some of the most basic qualities that he felt that every leader should have if they were poised to make any different in the society through their service to the people. Among the main qualities that ever leader should have according to Machiavelli were as follows; leaders should be feared rather than loved if by any chance they could withstand a revolt from the people or the political class, he also felt that the leaders should have the support of their people at all times, leaders are also supposed to hold good virtues according to the social cultures and norms, at all-time the leaders should rely on their own arm and never ask for assistance from mercenaries and finally for every leader to serve his/her people they have to be intelligent. It is important that some of the theories that Machiavelli brought forward, though they may old some are actually applicable in the political arenas of the current political systems. However, some can barely work in the current political systems, especially considering that democracy is a key element of governance today.[. Niccolò Machiavelli, Peter E Bondanella and Mark Musa, The Portable Machiavelli (Hammondsworth, Eng.: Penguin Books, 1979).] [. Machiavelli, Niccolò, Quentin Skinner, and Russell Price. 1988. Machiavelli: the prince. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.]
Thesis statement: Machiavelli’s theories were well thought out and some can be applied in the current political systems, while other cannot, as they are irrelevant and outdated.
Central concepts and Principles of Machiavelli’s political teaching
Human Nature in the Theory of Man
Although Machiavelli was an avid writer he did not expound in his theories in central book. Much of his theories about man and governance are spread across the many pieces that he wrote, as such, it is upon the imaginative readers to pick up the bits and pieces on his mater...