Friday, June 06, 2008

• Currently Watching Day Watch (Unrated) By Konstantin Khabensky, Mariya Poroshina, Vladimir Menshov, Galina Tyunina, Viktor Verzhbitsky see related

  Niccolo Machiavelli's 'The Prince' is a well known work of literature written in 1513, but published in 1532. It covers the the ways rulers can successfully control their state. It is well known, from his other works, that Machiavelli didn't necessarily believe in all the tenets of The Prince. He wrote it more as a satire to corrupt leaders in power, but to humor people who do believe he believes it if he surely does, I will act as such.
  
  We can easily discern the true meaning of the book. The book's idea is that kings can rule as they wish as long as they are honored and feared. Every claims this is revolutionary because it supposidely wipes morality from political thought. Of course, this isn't really true. Even if the moral wrong doings aren't written, people can imagine the corruption of an imaginary state created by the failed policies of the book or see the corruption of states using Machiavelli's political theory and understand the conditions of the state. Frederick the Great of Prussia said it best.
  
  "I always have regarded The Prince as one of the most dangerous works which were spread in the world; it is a book which falls naturally into the hands of princes, and of those who have a taste for policy. It is all too easy for an ambitious young man, whose heart and judgement are not formed enough to accurately distinguish good from bad, to be corrupted by maxims which inflame his hunger for power."
  
  One simple maxim can be understood to show why there continues to be such terrible rulers today. In Makiavelli's most renowned words "It is better to be feared than loved." Of course, within these words there is a true ironic meaning. The true meaning of these famous words are 'It is better to be stupid than loved.' Yes, the ideas of Hitler revolve completely around this maxim. People like Hitler would revel in the benefits of their stupid actions, completely uncaring of the consequences of being stupid; hatred. Machiavelli warns princes never to go too far so that people come to hate the princes. This is when the state becomes unstable and its survival is threatened. This is what is happening in America.
  
  The complications of using Machiavellian theory to run government has easily discernible consequences. The true problem in history has not been teaching and understanding these consequences, but keeping those who can't discern the consequences from ruling a country. Let's look at what happens when princes rule a state.
  
  Note: Because of Hitler's emphasis on social horrors he is not the best example of a a true fascist dictator because fascism is an all encompassing idea of not just state social progress, but state economic and political progress as well. Mussolini created fascism and true fascism should be aligned with what he did because he is the true fascist. Hitler's racism wasn't part of Mussolini's ideology.
  
  Benito Mussolini was the ruler of Italy from 1922 to 1945. Fascism as a party ideology had just been created. Fascism embodied nationalism, jingoism, anti-communism, patriotism, and most importantly, corporatism. People mistake Hitler's social terrors as the main form of fascism, but Mussolini said it best himself. "Fascism should more properly be called corporatism because it is the merger of state and corporate power." Fascism is an ideal based upon strong military power and corporation control, similar to how America's current military and economic policies are run. Before the end of his reign, Mussolini had made almost every industry in Italy its own private corporation, got rid of reasonable pricing, allowed insurance to become unaffordable, and started an unnecessary war with Ethiopia based on lies. Does this sound familiar? After he was killed, Mussolini's body was hung from the top of a gas station so people could confirm he was dead. Italians hated Mussolini for all the hegemonic and economic terror he brought to Italy. The Italian state was almost destroyed. Mussolini, through his Machiavellian and Fascist policies created a mess.
  
  What does this mean in terms of leaders? We need to keep Fascist Machiavellian princes from coming into power. Those who want war for no reason. Those who don't care about worker's rights. You can believe in your perfect world, but when someone who is ruling you is practicing true fascist thought, you're screwed.

  Ultimate conclusion
  

  FASCISM = 21st CENTURY MACHIAVELLIANISM

  
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  How Machiavellian are you? Find out with a (Probably not accurate) small, but interesting survey. I got 58. Almost Machiavellian, but I am not. Sweet.
  
  http://www.salon.com/books/it/1999/09/13/machtest/
  

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