Trump is often called Machiavellian. He isn’t, but when it comes to his treatment of Iraq, the president could stand to take some of the advice Machiavelli gives in his famous treaty, The Prince. The advice Machiavelli gives his prototypical sketch of a “good ruler” is built around one simple principle: stability. Power is centralized in the hands of an absolute ruler, but one whose excesses are nominally checked by the people. One cannot rule if one has been swept from office by a violent uprising: therefore, favor must be curried, even if rights are not respected in the same way we are accustomed to today.
What Machiavelli Should Teach Trump on Iraq
What Machiavelli Should Teach Trump on Iraq
What Machiavelli Should Teach Trump on Iraq
Trump is often called Machiavellian. He isn’t, but when it comes to his treatment of Iraq, the president could stand to take some of the advice Machiavelli gives in his famous treaty, The Prince. The advice Machiavelli gives his prototypical sketch of a “good ruler” is built around one simple principle: stability. Power is centralized in the hands of an absolute ruler, but one whose excesses are nominally checked by the people. One cannot rule if one has been swept from office by a violent uprising: therefore, favor must be curried, even if rights are not respected in the same way we are accustomed to today.