Machiavelli on Modern Leadership book review. Hit enter to advance slide

1. Machiavelli on Modern
Leadership
AHaller Book Review

2. Introduction
 Machiavelli: Every major political
philosopher make comments on his
work on “Power” as described in his
essay “The Prince”
 Prolific writer as a successful diplomat
 In 1512 imprisoned and tortured. He did
not expect his fate
 After a year upon release, he retreats to
write “The Prince”.
 How does one understand the dynamics
of power and successful leadership? –
study history

3.  Until 1500 a prince could retreat to his
castle
 The arrival of artillery meant survival
would depend on the people to fight
and die for the prince. A standing
military was needed.
 Such soldiers needed to be motivated to
be willing to die. They must believe in
the cause and its leaders
 Peace he concluded is rarer than war
thus to survive design and implement
winning strategies and technologies

4. Role of Uncertainty
 Fallen from his power he discovers
personally under unique situations
one can suddenly get fired,
imprisoned, tortured, and banished;
being bright like him did not matter.
 Epic events prevent, restrain, or
accelerate power. These are outside
our ability to foresee or control very
often.
 A new conflict is always on the
horizon so do not be surprised;
prepare for their eventuality. It’s
prudent.

5. The Role of Good Fortune
 In prison he takes up cards. It requires both luck and skill. Cards required
secrecy, deception, and risk taking.
 Bridge which he played required a team player to devise a winning strategy.
 Things learned from gambling:
 It is important to take calculated not reckless risks
 One must invest time playing to win and lessen losing
 It is vital to network. Connect with others to use them to protect one’s
interests
 Today in business and political science courses we model this with courses in
“gaming” and “risk management”

6. Machiavellian
 Machiavellian: Understood as “the end justifies
the means” few know:
 Nicolo preferred free to authoritative governance
 He scorned tyrants
 He advocates good soldiers require good laws
based on good religion
 He introduces the “concept of entering into evil”

7. Chapter One
The Course of Human Events
 If you are going to lead you are going to have to
fight
 Fight progresses
1. For survival
2. For freedom from domination
3. For ambition
 The goal is power – domination of others - it is
addictive – it cannot be satisfied – it can be
bloody and violent

8. Turmoil - Conflict
 Change is inevitable – degrees of being
mild to violent change - it is the history
of man
 All political systems are fragile – it can
fall from outside or from within
 Be flexible to change strategies – it’s
wise
 Those not adapting to the future or
adapting to present trends invite being
diminished and devalued
 Imperative absolute – be ready for
change – change invites conflict

9. War
 Americans believe peace is normal and war the exception
 War is normal and peace is the exception
 Leaders must dominate or be dominated
 If you do not fight you will be defeated and dominated by ones
enemies
 How hard it is to win! It is worth it.
 Since it is bound to happen fight under the most favorable
conditions to you
 It is more dangerous to be neutral than to take sides.
 If you stay out you will be hated by the loser and despised by
the winner

10. Preparation for Combat
 Constantly be prepared for war
 Things will not turn out as you expect it
 People despise a defeated leader
 Nations that spurn victory in the name of safety end in death and
defeat
 See the world plain, to accept human nature, and to vigorously act
to dominate, lest we be dominated
 Act humbly knowing there are forces we cannot always control. We
may win without merit and lose without shame. Fortune
appears to bless or curse an outcome.

11. Chapter Two - Luck
 Some events are totally dictated by luck not by blunder or brilliance
 Unique epic events are more powerful than our wills or skills
 Epic events are elusive and very difficult to predict
 Churchill admitted in spite of all heroic actions Heaven ultimately
assisted and brought victory
 Fortune favors the man who acts assertively
 Luck favors the intrepid
 You never find out your destiny until it befalls you
D Day June 6, 1944
Eisenhower
The weather cooperated
MacArthur liberating
Philippines and Korea

12. Nature and Nurture
 Avoid concluding all men are the same – a wide variety of
characters exist
 Successful men recognize the moment and act
 Two forces at work: epic events and a vast array of human
natures
 Risk taking favors an outcome while our destiny cannot be
predicted or assured until reached
 Because of our fallen nature, self discipline does not come
easily. Our judgment remains impaired
 External force contribute or deter an outcome thus unforeseen
 Americans are a naïve thinking people are very similar

13. Chapter Three
The War of Politics
 In the real world treason and
deceit are commonplace
 All mankind is incurably
fallen – “All men are wicked”
 Harmonious work requires
effort as man is prone to
disintegration
 Mankind does not voluntarily
do the right thing – they will
do the convenient thing
 Judgment falters when man
yields to pleasure, pride,
greed, laziness, self indulgent,
and prestige

14. The Perils of Victory
 Preparing for war makes us tough – one becomes a soldier
committed to the mission with a zealous devotion to win
 Leader advances the cause of the common good – a good
warrior is dedicated to the cause not his personal comfort
 Might of victory alone does not make right
 Peace increases our peril as we become less discipline
 Troubles do not end at the top – instead they multiply
 Internal conflicts including one’s own weaknesses
 External foes wish to see us fail

15. The Change Artist
 Improvising essential as change plays out
 Washington, de Gaulle, Eisenhower successful
at more than one level
 Leaders normally do not change
 We cannot change our own nature
 Having succeeded in the past, why change?
 Good leaders change and improvise – thus
teachable

16. Men
 Some leaders use military power to enhance their
image and not to advance the common good
 Worry over massive casualties make some men
timid. They surrender like Petain WWII
 Talleyrand “worse than a crime…a blunder” as it
could have been prevented
 Being weak + wealthy invites an attack

17. Women
 Women less effective. They cannot match
a man’s physical prowess or stamina.
Women can be tough no doubt.
 The presence of women in an army
distracts. Passions, frustrations, and
jealousies arise; a breakdown in discipline
and morale invited.
 Example: Bill Clinton distracted and
subject to great personal cost by Monica
Lewinsky.
 Extra expense for accommodations
unique to women. Physical standards are
lowered.
 In Israel the women are segregated

18. Chapter Four Of Good and Evil
 We must master our own ruinous internal impulses and external plans
of our enemies who seek to dominate us. Presuppose all men are evil.
 A leader must show he can rule and defeat his enemies.
 Any sign of weakness invites attacks. Peace at any price invites war and
with it defeat and domination
 Example of the unarmed prophet
Savonarola. Fiery prophet broken and
publicly executed 1498.
 Example armed prophet Moses. Had he
spoken “let us reason together” to do good
would have let evil triumph. In dire
circumstances the end justified the means.

19. Entering Into Evil
 To serve the common good a leader must accept doing dreadful things.
Mandatory to prevent unthinkable worse things. Chose a lesser evil over a
greater evil.
 Examples
 Tandy’s mercy on an injured German named Adolf at end of WWI.
 Coventry’s bombing allowed by Churchill. Prevent the Germans knowing
their secret code had been broken
 Carter’s righteous ban on assassinations permitted more evil
 Lying is evil but Eisenhower used deception to distract the enemy on D Day.
 Churchill’s sinking of the French Navy at Oran to prevent Hitler’s seizure.
Greater than Pearl Harbor in scope
 Extreme situations justify extreme measures
 Once the evil done – exit at once. It should be rare and limited - Survival of
nation is one example

20.  Moses could not use reason. The dreadful fate of the idolaters
avoided anarchy.
 All serious revolutions must be effective and ruthless
 It is precarious.
Entering Into Evil - Revolution
The Good Society
 The best state is a meritocracy
 It is a religious state where a moral high road is emphasized
 Laziness and self indulgence should be minimized

21. Chapter Five - How to Rule
 Without fear of punishment men will not obey laws
 Machiavelli insists on no mercy
 Celebrate arms, laws, and religion – publicly
 Christianity permits the defense of a nation therefore it
supersedes humility. See “a just war” rationale. Protect the
innocent. Punish the evil doer.
 Fear enhances discipline as does love. One must fear their
leaders as much as they admire their goodness
 Be alert to shifting moods. People will forget your past as a
benefactor.

22.  With fear those who might attack do not. They fear they
will not survive!
 If feared one followers will always have a reason to follow.
 Avoiding war at all costs invites worse consequences
 Better to be feared than loved as a political leader. Love
can evaporate and not be reliable in the face of tough
decisions.
 Law is impersonal and the focus in the law not the law
enforcer and his personality.

23. Chapter 6 - Freedom
 Fight for Freedom or return to bondage example of Moses and
children of Israel
 Difficult to lead people from bondage to freedom
 People become use to live under a dictator. Status quo is preferred
to the uncertainty of revolting or anarchy
 People have trouble making their own decisions coming out of a
totalitarian system
 People’s hunger for freedom is linked to their history
 Free societies depend on the virtues of its people. Corruption leads
to disintegration. Leaders must personify virtue.

24. Corruption: It is Always There to Appear
– see history
 Corruption is part of our nature
 With false security we yield to its seduction
 Corruption leads to tyranny and loss of freedom
 Anarchy which is worse than a dictatorship can arise
 Nicolo observes mediocre leadership – at his time it is
corrupt not courageous – it is self indulgent not self
sacrificing
 Americans tend to destroy people’s careers and reputations
rather than take their lives.

25. Machiavelli on Modern
Leadership
AHaller Book Review