The Gray Area with Sean Illing cover image

Machiavelli on how democracies die

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

00:00

Machiavelli's Political Realism

This chapter explores Machiavelli's complex views on morality and power, asserting that leaders may need to resort to immoral actions to retain authority. It examines the interplay between his pragmatic governance advice in 'The Prince' and his advocacy for shared power in 'Discourses,' underscoring the necessity of balancing power to prevent tyranny. Through historical examples and theoretical discussions, the chapter highlights the challenges of democracy and the importance of maintaining order and stability within political systems.

Transcript
Play full episode

The AI-powered Podcast Player

Save insights by tapping your headphones, chat with episodes, discover the best highlights - and more!
App store bannerPlay store banner
Get the app