Norman Davies
05-24-2005, 06:03 PM
While the Prince does have merit for its historical political impact, it can hardly be justified in the face of modern governmental coups. The third reich, the Stalinist CCCP being overthrown in Poland, and recently the Milosovichian Balkan states have all demonstrated to the world that pure Machiavellian tactics lead to an extremely short life for a state.<br> Ruling with no "virtues for which men are reputed good, because it is often necessary to act against mercy, against faith, against humanity, against frankness, against religion, in order to preserve the state" will do just the opposite. Their is a level of toleration a state's people and the world will grant to their leader. As I write, the world is amassing its forces to topple a regime in Iraq, headed by one of Machiavelli's Princes.