The Machiavellian Principles of Leadership

The Machiavellian Principles of Leadership
Name
Institution

The Machiavellian Principles of Leadership
In The Prince, Niccolo Machiavelli examines the nature of human beings, and how leaders can apply their understanding of the human nature to gain or retain power. This essay discusses Machiavelli’s views on human nature and his recommendations on how people in power should exploit the human nature to strengthen their hold to power. It argues that Machiavelli’s views and recommendations are justified because he lived and wrote at a time when authoritarian regimes were not only common, but necessary for political stability in Italy and Europe.
The first human nature that Machiavelli presents is human beings are resistant to change (Machiavelli, 2013, p. 95). This is especially the case for new regimes, in which people who were benefiting from the old leadership may be against the new government. As a result, they will fiercely resist any changes that would stop them from enjoying the benefits of the old system. Even those who were not beneficiaries of the previous regime, and may stand to benefit from the new one, may be a little resistant because they are not sure about the reliability of the incoming regime. At the same time, the new leader will not manage to satisfy the needs of everyone, and therefore he is likely to disappoint even his own followers.
To prevent resistance to reforms, Machiavelli recommends the new prince/leader to use any means, such as force, which will not only suppress dissent among his opponents, but also keep his supporters loyal. He states that “Any prince who has come to depend entirely on promises and has taken no other precautions ensures his own ruin” (Machiavelli, 2013, p. 95). Cruelty is the “other precautions” that Machiavelli suggests when he adds that “fear is strengthened by a dread of punishment which is always effective” (Machiavelli, 2013, p. 96). Accordingly, Machiavelli implies that it is necessary for a prince to be cruel as a way of instilling fear in his subjects, which in turn will help him keep his subjects united and loyal to him. The relevance of this suggestion is evident in most dictatorial regimes, such as in North Korea and Iraqi during Saddam Hussein’s reign. Both leaders used executions to intimidate opponents and keep the public in fear, which allowed them to rule by decrees without any resistance or opposition to their policies. Thus, the use of force allows the leader to enforce his will and in the process consolidate their hold to power.
The second view that Machiavelli has regarding human beings is that they are unreliable, deceptive, liars, and greedy (Machiavelli, 2013, p.96). Machiavelli argues that princes who gain power through luck or “the blessings of powerful figure” within the political system are at the mercies of their godfathers. As a result, they rule at the pleasure of the people who sponsored them to power, and who can withdraw their support any time they wish. This is because the prince does not wield real power since they do not control the instruments of power, such as the military. Consequently, he finds it difficult to rule independently without worrying about his masters. In today’s politics, such leaders exist even in democratic societies when their election is sponsored by wealthy individuals, businessmen, and political parties. After ascending to power, the leader is forced to go along with his sponsors, such making economic policies that benefit them (e.g. lower taxes for businesses). In the U.S., for example, Republican candidates are commonly supported by businessmen because of the Republican economic policies that favor free enterprise and low taxes on businesses. In contrast, Democrats are supported by welfare organizations and NGOs because Democratic policies tend to favor their interests, such as spending on social welfare programs like food stamps and cash benefits for the poor.
Machiavelli advises that a prince who finds himself in this situation should consolidate his own power by using means that he can control by himself. This includes instilling fear through cruelty, creating new alliances as circumstances may permit, and buying the loyalty of influential but greedy people (Machiavelli, 2013, p.96). This will ensure that the new prince creates a circle of power that is directly loyal and answerable to him alone. In fact, this tactic is seen today whenever a new leader is elected, whereby he swiftly makes changes in the military and judiciary by appointing his cronies or individuals who are loyal to him. Bribery is also seen when a leader appoints his opponents or a member of the opposition party to a government...