The Prince is most relevant to modern western politics if the sections about military strength are changed to economic influence. The political sphere has changed from a game of Battleship to a game of Monopoly. Rising to power is an arduous task, and in our current system, the key to securing power is financial influence. Modern leaders utilize economic warfare to secure global status. To make The Prince relative in modern politics, replace financial strength for military might, for in the battle between the almighty dollar and the a-bomb, money talks and everything else walks. Advice from Machiavelli relating to foreign aggressive measures is valuable information for anyone trying to run a nation in the modern world, but only if it is
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To be recognized as a world power, a country must wield economic authority. America’s robust economy contributes significantly to its democracy and world standing ; officials do not have to worry about domestic unrest stemming from poorly managed economics. In Machiavelli’s time,“... there cannot exist good laws where there are no good armies, and where there are good armies there must be good laws” (Machiavelli). This still reigns true, if the words “good armies” are changed out for a secure economy. To Machiavelli’s point, a strong economy is a direct path to a thriving democracy. The Greek debt crisis provides a timely example. The lack of stability in their economy made it very difficult for the Greek government to keep their other affairs under control, resulting in recent electoral crisis that saw the Golden Dawn fascist party rise to national prominence. The economy is the backbone for maintaining a resolute democracy. Modern democracies have to be run by rulers whom have a strong handle on the economy they …show more content…
The importance of economic security to American citizens eclipses any other issue. Bill Clinton iconically discredited all the work George H. W. Bush did in the Middle East by simply saying, “it’s the economy, stupid” (Clinton). The American public immediately followed Clinton in his fight to reboot the American economy. Machiavelli argues, “A prince must have no other objective, no other thought, nor take up any profession but that of war, its methods and its discipline, for that is the only art expected of a ruler”(Machiavelli). To make this point relevant, one must replace the art of war with the understanding of global economics. Clinton utilized Machiavelli’s principle artfully and used it to become the world’s most powerful man. Economic policy was his main focus for, “it is of such great value that it not only keeps hereditary princes in power, but often raises men of lowly condition to that rank”(Machiavelli). A solid economic plan and understanding is the key to securing or rising to power in a western democracy. The people are well aware of what can go wrong in the economy and will use all influence they have to put a leader in power who has an understanding of economics so that they feel safe putting their precious money in his or her
To be recognized as a world power, a country must wield economic authority. America’s robust economy contributes significantly to its democracy and world standing ; officials do not have to worry about domestic unrest stemming from poorly managed economics. In Machiavelli’s time,“... there cannot exist good laws where there are no good armies, and where there are good armies there must be good laws” (Machiavelli). This still reigns true, if the words “good armies” are changed out for a secure economy. To Machiavelli’s point, a strong economy is a direct path to a thriving democracy. The Greek debt crisis provides a timely example. The lack of stability in their economy made it very difficult for the Greek government to keep their other affairs under control, resulting in recent electoral crisis that saw the Golden Dawn fascist party rise to national prominence. The economy is the backbone for maintaining a resolute democracy. Modern democracies have to be run by rulers whom have a strong handle on the economy they …show more content…
The importance of economic security to American citizens eclipses any other issue. Bill Clinton iconically discredited all the work George H. W. Bush did in the Middle East by simply saying, “it’s the economy, stupid” (Clinton). The American public immediately followed Clinton in his fight to reboot the American economy. Machiavelli argues, “A prince must have no other objective, no other thought, nor take up any profession but that of war, its methods and its discipline, for that is the only art expected of a ruler”(Machiavelli). To make this point relevant, one must replace the art of war with the understanding of global economics. Clinton utilized Machiavelli’s principle artfully and used it to become the world’s most powerful man. Economic policy was his main focus for, “it is of such great value that it not only keeps hereditary princes in power, but often raises men of lowly condition to that rank”(Machiavelli). A solid economic plan and understanding is the key to securing or rising to power in a western democracy. The people are well aware of what can go wrong in the economy and will use all influence they have to put a leader in power who has an understanding of economics so that they feel safe putting their precious money in his or her