OPPapers.com

Bush As A Machiavellian Leader

George Bush and Niccolo Machiavelli are two very influential political figures that share some similar ideals. Machiavelli's work was never intended to be applied to republics, or a democratic government. The advice written in The Prince would have likely been applied in the time of absolute government, when countries were ruled by one leader. It is a work which, as Machiavelli himself says that his philosophy is only applied to principalities, or what we call dictatorships in modern times.
Elected from the state of Texas, George Bush is a strictly right-winged conservative. When he was governor, Bush showed no clemency for the death row inmates which resulted in the highest number of executions. He severely restricted women's rights in Texas by legislating strict guidelines for abortion, making it very difficult for women to exercise their first amendment right. In my opinion, Bush's views greatly reflect the tactics described by Machiavelli in The Prince. President Bush's outlooks on nuclear power, war in Iraq, Social Security, and appointing Federal Judges that share his ethics compares well with Machiavelli's philosophies.
The most astounding aspect of The Prince is Machiavelli's view that princes may indeed, be cruel and dishonest if their ultimate aim is for the good of the state. It is not only acceptable but necessary to lie, to use torture, and to walk over other states and cities. Machiavellianism is defined as "A political doctrine of Machiavelli, which denies the relevance of morality in political affairs and holds that craft and deceit are justified in pursuing and maintaining political power (Def.)" This implies that in the conquest for power, the ends justify the means. This is the basis of Machiavellianism. The priority for the power holder is to keep the security of the state regardless of the morality of the means. He accepts that these things are in and of themselves morally wrong, but he points out that the consequences of failure, the...