The Rise And Abuse Of Power

Danny Quevedo
Professor Chaney
Political Science I, 2606
14 April 2011

The Rise and Abuse of Power
Throughout centuries, perhaps millenniums, people have always sought the idea of exercising their God-given human rights in order to achieve happiness and freedom. However, there has always been a higher authority that controls the conduct and misconduct of the “civilized” people.Politics have been the power that manifests itself amongst societies in order to impose and depose rules and rulers for a more secure, meaningful, and utopian-like society. The Prince, by Niccolo Machiavelli, clearly expresses guidelines on how to and not to rule a society in order for a certain country to succeed, prosper, and bring togetherness to the people. The writing suggests that it might havebeen addressed to those in power, yet it possesses the idea that the governed are concerned with the way they are being ruled. Politics have evolved, evidently, but the idea that they should work for a “common good” remains the same. Humanity has seen throughout history that leaders have failed and leaders have succeeded. However, no government has been able to please the crowds, regardless ofthe number of attempts to be fair, or unfair for that matter. On the contrary, governments have used and abused the power given to them by virtue (virtù) or by fortune. The truth is that Machiavelli’s philosophy of politics remains the same now as it did in his time.
In The Prince, Machiavelli, witnessing the change in politics in Italy and around the world, addresses Lorenzo di Medici andexhorts him to seize Italy from the Barbarians and instructs him exactly on how to do it and what to do post acquisition. Moreover, Machiavelli warns those in power that if they do not rule tactfully, they cannot retain control of their power and will eventually lose it. He also advises those who hold power to expand their kingdoms, to hold it, and to keep the people happy because if not they canpotentially become a failure. Published in 1532, The Prince presents the philosophy that it is not good to only talk about the idea of having a great government, but to be true to the words given. Machiavelli gives examples of how either a government can prevail or fail. Furthermore, he addresses the issue that political powers have been given to each man in power either through virtue (virtù)or fortune. The former he suggests it is a God-given right and the latter he characterizes it as a woman. However a person who may have acquired a powerful status must be wise on how to run or not a group, a nation. One may think of the book as a “Ruling a Nation for Dummies”. He openly talks about how and why governments have failed, as well as lauding those that have prospered thanks to theirkeen understanding of leadership. Clearly, Machiavelli understood the differences between the different types of governments that have evolved and have earned a place in the books of history as mankind’s trials and errors.
Machiavelli gives accurate examples of how the evolving politics of his time and era especially when one considers that he perhaps was amiable of the Magna Carta and itscontents and petitions of political reformation. It is also evident that during Machiavelli’s time, the monarchy was declining due to the abuse of virtue (virtù) that had been vested upon them either through birth or commandment of God. A king, queen, or prince steps into the commanding of a nation in order to find the best methods to please the commoners and grant them their rightful naturalrights such as freedom, happiness, and equality. However, princes, being royal apprentices, “always walk in the paths beaten by [their parents or other great kings] and proceed in their actions by imitation” (Machiavelli 24). Because of this imitation, the new prince considers plundering other nations and extorting the riches of the people and of the land for their own wellbeing, or greed. As...