c) Niccolò Machiavelli [1469-1527]:
Perhaps a more radical approach to Realism was devised by the Florentine statesman and diplomat, Niccolò Machiavelli. Political literature of his time was still dominated by the Idealistic approach to states and how they ought to behave and what politics should be like. Cardinal values exemplified in the role of virtues remained the mainstay in political thought, a tradition that dated back to the time of Aristotle when Politics came under the branch of Ethics. While the latter focused on the moral behaviour of individuals, the former dealt with moral behaviours of individuals in social groups or organised communities. Cicero is credited with outlining a moral law that could be applied to both international
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At the time, the continent of Europe was embroiled in conflict between major kingdoms such as that of the French, English, Portuguese, Spanish and the Holy Roman Empire. The papacy in Europe too wanted to exercise influence larger than it already did, and in the east there was the Ottoman Empire making its way into the balkans and Africa. The city states of Italy were in constant threat as except for the Swiss, all the powers In Europe desired more territory, thus giving rise to great political instability in the region. Florence was among the richer city states in Europe because of the fortunes that many of its banking families and wealthy merchants had …show more content…
In order to successfully defend itself, a state should have strong laws and a capable military ruled by one who, if not be both feared and loved, is at the very least feared. One who is readily feared by the common masses is more successful in shaping the policies of a state than the one who merely wants to be loved. He speaks against employing mercenaries by a state as he regards them as without any loyalty, driven by the sole purpose of acquiring money, and ready to abandon the moment a chance shows itself. His “Prince” does not explain what the most ethical goals or principles are, except for one’s own fortune. This can be translated in Realist thought as the need of the self-interests of the state to have the highest priority in the international arena. One can also derive ideas of the survival of a state as most important from Machiavelli’s