By: Arjun VermaEven though Donald Trump, the 45th president of the United States, has now officially left office, his influence on politics is still felt. Likewise, Niccolò Machiavelli, a political philosopher, died almost half a millennium ago yet his ideas still can explain politics, particularly the actions and ideology of the last president. What did Machiavelli believe?Machiavelli lived and wrote during the height of the Renaissance, and his ideas were emblematic of its secular focus. Machiavelli famously claimed that there was a distinction between morality in the private sphere versus in the public arena, arguing that state actors had unique obligations compared to individuals. He believed that the primary goal of these political leaders was simply to maintain their power and stability through any means without concern for common standards of morality. This earned him the ire of many of his contemporaries as they critiqued his lack of constraints on states. One of Machiavelli's core arguments was that an ideal ruler should not rule by virtue of being loved but rather by being feared. Machiavelli noticed that while obligations to a ruler derived from love were inherently fickle and unpredictable, responding to strict enforcement via fear would lead to a more sustainable grasp of power for a leader. This led Machiavelli to argue that practices like violence and corruption were permissible in order to secure power. How does that relate to Trump?Donald Trump was certainly an unprecedented president. Trump was frequently condemned for his disregard of democratic ideals and established political procedures. From striking deals with foreign leaders to root out information on his political competitors to condoning strongmen to declaring the results of an election as illegitimate, Trump frequently ignored precedent and took actions to increase his own power. As a result, many have deemed him Machiavellian. However, the question is not whether one simply was unethical to be Machiavellian; one has to also successfully use that to their advantage. While Trump did succeed in gaining power and fortune through these methods, he also failed in other regards, like at winning a second term. Another component to Machiavelli's philosophy was his advice to prioritize fear over love. Trump often utilized both to his advantage, albeit in different spheres. On one hand, many of Trump's most fervent supporters who voted for him adored him no matter what he did. This may have been akin to what Machiavelli described as ruling through the love of your supporters; however, Trump also used fear in an unique and indirect way. Instead of threatening violence against them if they rejected him, he threatened about the influx of immigrants or Muslims from abroad to steal their jobs. This was a form of fear that galvanized his supporters and contributed to their unwavering support for him. On the other hand, his allies in Congress seemed to have been motivated by fear of what he could do if they did not support his actions. Many may have feared that they would be ostracized should they distance themselves from him. Overall, Trump was a president who acted more Machiavellian than his predecessors, yet was unable to fully encapsulate a true Machiavellian leader. Arjun VermaArjun is a current high school junior. He is a captain of his high school's Lincoln Douglas debate team.
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Arjun V.I am an undergraduate student who's fascinated by anything related to philosophy. I hope to show you how philosophy can apply to everyday life! Check out my Youtube Channel, Philosophy in Context. Archives
August 2022
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