CSS Solved Political Science 2024 Past Paper I | Machiavelli as Citizen of All States and Contemporary of All Ages
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Question Breakdown
The examiner has enquired to shed light on the notion “Machiavelli a citizen of all states and a contemporary of all ages” through proper and valid argument. The students have to start the answer with an introduction, then briefly simply the notion, and write a few lines on the political circumstances that led to Machiavelli’s philosophy. Additionally, proves the notion by discussing his literary work “The Prince” and “The Discourses”. Finally, write a critical statement and a conclusion.
Outline
1- Introduction
Though Niccolo Machiavelli’s political thoughts have been widely criticized, the philosophy he presented is the real-life political situation of all time. The contemporary political phase, including aristocrats, political leaders, feudal lords, magnates, business tycoons, parliamentarians, and agenda groups, regardless of modernity, democracy, fundamental rights provisions, and constitutional liberties, widely believes and practices Machiavelli’s principles and stratagems to hold power and rule the nations. Thus, by relating Machiavelli’s philosophy in his literary work “The Prince”, one could effortlessly assume the notion, “Machiavelli a citizen of all states and contemporary of all ages”.
2- Deciphering the jargon “a Citizen of All States and Contemporary of All Ages”
3- The circumstantial events leading to Niccolo Machiavelli’s philosophy
4- Asserting Machiavelli as a Citizen of All States and Contemporary of All Ages
- ✓A commentary on “The Prince”
- ✓Preached rulers the use of arbitrary authority
- ✓View on “The Discourses”
- ✓Republic of Machiavelli
- ✓Opinion on the elite section of society
- ✓Religious subjugation – equivalent to the contemporary secular Western society
5- Critical Analysis
6- Conclusion
Answer to the question
Introduction
Niccoli Machiavelli, an aristocrat of France in the 15th century, was widely popular for his philosophy on kingship or an argument to control masses and elites through coercion, might, and underground political strategies. His theory has been widely criticized, however, the philosophy he presented is the real-life political situation of all the time. The contemporary political phase, including aristocrats, political leaders, feudal lords, magnates, business tycoons, parliamentarians, and agenda groups, regardless of modernity, democracy, fundamental rights provisions, and constitutional liberties, widely believes and practices Machiavelli’s principles and strategies to hold power and rule the nation, areas, and specific population. In “The Prince” and “The Discourses”, Niccoli Machiavelli taught multiple empowering maneuvers to the ruler and the elite to suppress the public or rule over them. Thus, by relating Machiavelli’s philosophy in his literary work with modern politics, one could effortlessly assume the notion, “Machiavelli a citizen of all states and contemporary of all ages”.
Deciphering the jargon “a citizen of all states and a contemporary of all ages”
Before diving into the main query, the understanding of the terms “a citizen of all states” and “a contemporary of all ages” is pertinent, as it would help to profoundly address the main topic. First of all, the term “a citizen of all states” means a person who could fit into any political, economic, and social structure, regardless of time and space. An individual whose beliefs could not be antagonized by any political scheme. On the other hand, the jargon “a contemporary of all ages” simply means any political thought, personal insight, and governmental model presented by a political thinker that could be observed in all the modern states, irrespective of its issuance date, period, and political culture.
The circumstantial events leading to Niccolo Machiavelli’s philosophy
A new economic model emerged in the fifteenth century in England, France, and Germany, and, with the rise of capitalism, merchants began to worry about the monarchies’ economic regulation policies. With an increased degree of transportation and communication facilities, the elite, the wealthiest class, tried to topple the rulings of the monarchies. Additionally, the political, social, and economic conditions were worst in Italy. At the time, Italy mainly consisted of five states: Milan, Naples, Florence, Venice, and Papal State. These states, by no means, were unified or had a national monarch. The aristocracy was corrupt, immoral, and cruel to get control over power and money. The Pope of Papal State was involved in politics, wanting to spread its authority to other areas of the states. Furthermore, cruelty and murder had become normal agencies of the governments of these states. Thus, Italy fell under the control of tyrants of various states, military rulers, and mercenary soldiers who were popular to betray their nation for the sake of some monetary and property benefits. Niccolo Machiavelli clearly understood the reasons for the national disintegration of Italy, and though he widely believed in popularism, he advocated absolutism, a political condition where the say of the monarch surpasses all national institutions and their policies to establish peace and unity in Italy.
Asserting Machiavelli as a Citizen of All States and Contemporary of All Ages
Machiavelli, being a diplomate and political writer, had understood the political scenario of Italy. Having longed for a healthy public spirit, he advocated the involvement of moral values in private life. As a diplomate agent, he travelled to many European states, observed their political systems that contemplated their national unity, and reasoned that Italy should generate a political formula to shatter the menaces of disparity, constant war, and immorality. Machiavelli’s writings were an effort to correct these evils in Italy. His two major literary discourses, The Prince and The Discourses, though preached two deviant prospects, could be summed a single notion, unity, and peace in Italy.
A commentary on “The Prince”
- Preached rulers the use of arbitrary authority
“The Prince” a literary work of Machiavelli resulted from his overriding concern with the development and maintenance of unity in Italy. “The Prince” deals with the political, social, economic, and religious problems of Italy with the viewpoint of their solution through an absolute government. Machiavelli did not occupy himself with the thoughts of an ideal state, nonetheless, being a realist, he advocated that all social institutions, manpower, and religious identities contribute to the stability of a state. A prince, a conqueror, or a monarch should be arduous enough to use coercion, military might, and all suppression methods to control the subjects, establish his policies, and spread peace, and unity in his nation. However, a prince or a ruler must respect his people and through law and force attain internal unity of the state. Thus, by elaborating on these power strategies and political approaches, these have been constantly used in wars, democratic states, aristocratic setups, authoritative regimes, and military coups d etat throughout human history, justifying Machiavelli’s philosophy contemporary to all ages.
View on “The Discourses”
The political philosophy of Machiavelli’s “Discourses” wanders from one problem to another problem in a society. “The Discourses” reasserted the validity of his stance in his “The Prince”, which stresses the position of a ruthless prince or monarch who has the qualities of the lion and the fox, establishing constitution and reforms in the state’s institutions for a long-term unity and survival of its state. Machiavelli quoted the history of the Roman Republic to solve the current problems in the state. To him, Human nature now is similar to human nature of then, humans have always been attracted to greediness and selfishness, and they always counter the same political circumstances and internal conflicts; thus, the solutions to these issues are more or less likely the same as in the past. This statement could provide a guide to the notion, “Machiavelli – a citizen of all state.
- Republic of Machiavelli
Additionally, Machiavelli stated that establishing and maintaining a state requires a stronghold of a ruler, but he cannot alone safeguard its unity. For a lasting existence, a republic must be established, where corruption, immorality, revolutions, and freedom of expression and speech have no place. Moreover, well-established laws and the subjugation of the people before the ruler are necessary to safeguard the state’s existence. To conclude, in the present era, many Asian and African nations are facing the same situation: rulers, through undivided authority, underscored tactics, and agenda groups, suppress the people, making the populace subjugate before them to establish their policies and constitution and retain authority.
- Opinion on the elite section of society
Besides the view of Republicanism, his belief that stated the major foundation of disunity in a state is due to the elite class, nobility, who harbour the work and efforts of lower classes, suppress their rights, and parasitically feed upon the work of others, this belief harboured Machiavelli the status of the citizen of all states. In addition, the philosopher advocated that the elite sections of the state perturb the political conditions for personal motives and create disunity, ignite dissatisfaction, and fan off revolutions among the masses. To control them, only a powerful monarch is required, inhibiting these elites from exploiting the masses and providing safety and growth to the lower segments of the state.
- Religious subjugation – equivalent to the contemporary secular Western society
The contemporary age is generally assumed to be the age of secularism, where the role of religion either has completely vanished or subjugated to a subjective level. Akin to the acknowledgement of religion by Machiavelli, who argued the minor, suppressed role of religion. Religion, if enjoins good that strengthens national unity and promotes the standing of a monarch then it is good, otherwise, is an ill recipe, promoting sectarian divide and instilling danger to the stability of the state. At that time, the Roman Church had miserably failed to promote unity and nationalism, even worse, the Pope had made his mercenary army and added fuel to the national division of Italy. Currently, almost all European nations have declared themselves secular, religion is a personal dealing, and Popes have no authority in the political decision-making, correspondingly, these analyses prove Machiavelli’s theory as contemporary to all ages.
Critical Analysis
There is significant criticism of Niccolo Machiavelli’s political philosophy, especially of The Politics. A few political critics called the politics a publication fault, as it was supposed to be written for the then King of Italy, nonetheless, others argued that it was a political strategy for all the times. In any case, coercive policies, the establishment of the military, the acquirement of weapons, the formation of laws, and a powerful ruler are the necessities of all nations, procuring unity, peace, and stability while menacing any gesture of suppression and revolts.
Conclusion
In the end, it is deduced that Machiavelli was the apostle of power politics. His strategies to acquire political authority through military might, coercion, and punishment have attained perpetuation, providing the present political arena with the tactics to fulfil its goals. Presently, many intelligence agencies, military wings, political parties, and governmental institutes, despite enchanting masses through fundamental rights and freedom of expression, are profusely indulged in power politics. Additionally, the role of religion is reduced to individual grades, which is what Machiavelli suggested to repel the disintegration among the masses. In consequence, by assessing Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Politics and The Discourses, it is correct to call Machiavelli a citizen of all states and a contemporary of all ages.
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