9.ax.1 Political Realism History.pptx

1. v
The Political Realism
School of Thought
Thucydides, Machiavelli & Nietzche

2. Thucydides (460-395 BC)
• Author of “History of the Peloponnesian War,” which
took place between Greek city-states Athens and
Sparta (431-404 BC). Often called the “father of political
realism” (“might rather than right”).
• Thucydides wrote the history of the Peloponnesian War
between the Greek City states of Athens and Sparta:
“beginning at the moment that it broke out, and
believing that it would be a great war and more worthy
of relation than any that had preceded it.”
• Thucydides was sent as an Anthenian general to a city
that had been conquered by Sparta by the time he
arrived. Given good terms to surrender, he watched the
war at distance taking account of both sides strategies,
cultures, etc. (Athen’s had a huge appetite for empire
that led to the war).

3. Theory of Human Nature and Power
o Thucydides—human motivation is power. By studying past we can learn to predict
the future.
o Same nature 
o Same conditions  Same historical situation and you can predict
o Same choices 
o Same results 
o Rational behavior according to Thucydides: Safety first, economic gain second,
honor and reputation third. Cities and individuals should follow this priority. Athens
should have done this and avoided war.
o Democracy in Athens turned loose innovation as well as individual ambitions.
o Sparta had little innovation and thus little enterprising, put security first with their
agricultural/traditional society.

4. Sparta vs. Athens
o Sparta—land power of 5 cities on Peloponnesian Peninsula (Greece)
with many subjugated cities around it. Very stable city-state that
lasted 4-5 centuries. Rule by military (nobility) with no public opinion
allowed to chance—youth taught to memorize and not criticize.
Creative arts restricted (e.g., plays, music, arts, etc.) Isolationist,
didn’t allow travel and trade—foreigners not wanted. Laconic, very
short speech and language.
o Athens—sea power of many cities surrounding Athens. Periods of
political instability, tyranny, oligarchy, and “democracy” (male citizens).
Public opinion allowed, private education (e.g., Plato’s Academy and
Aristotle’s Lyceum), youth can criticize (“Socratic” method). Many
artists, plays, poets and “rhetorical specialists” and teachers called
Sophists. Cosmopolitan, resident foreigners welcome, international
trade, etc. Citizens (non-noble and aristocrats) had privileges, little

5. Lessons of the Peloponnesian War and Leadership
o Athenian empire lost because of irrational elected leaders—too much
pride, too many battles and too many invasions for economic gain and
pride.
o Alcibiades (died 404)—bad personal behaviors while in Athenian
leadership that led to many enemies and military defeats (e.g.,
accused of smashing religious monuments while drunk, then fled to
Sparta and later to Persia. Many troubles with other King’s wives, etc.)
o Cleon (died 422)—warmonger and demagogue, very incompetent
military leader, eventually made many enemies by making up rumours
about opponents (first to practice “McCarthyism?”).

6. Machiavelli (1469-1527)
• Often considered the first modern political
scientist. Author of many works including the
republican Discourses (anti-aristocracy, anti-
dictatorship, pro-checks and balances, pro-
democratic features, citizens have rights) AND
The Prince (some say “ends justify the means”
guide for dictators).

7. Why The Prince?
o Huge amount of literature trying to reconcile these works, although many
contemporary political scientists consider the Discourses the superior of the works
due to their democratic/republican value systems.
o Rousseau called The Prince “satire.”
o Antonio Gramsci (Italian Marxist) argued it was written for the common people to
show them how rulers think and behave (and thus a work for republicanism)
o Tsurutani argued it was a deliberate major break from the works of Plato and
Aristotle, which incorporated “ideal types” that rulers should strive for (e.g., “The
Republic” and “Politics.”
o Others have argued that it is a self-interested attempt to get into the good graces of
the Medici. Machiavelli was a diplomat, civil servant, politician for the Florentine
Republic. However in 1512, the Medici family (i.e., Pope Alexander VI and his son
Cesare Borgia) through the use of Spanish troops, conquered the Florentine
Republic for “god” and imprisoned and tortured (“the rope”) Machiavelli for about a
month before releasing him. Upon his release he retreated to his family’s estate
and wrote “The Prince” to win favor with the Medici and possible return to politics.
o Who knows the real reason? Lots of academics have publications and tenure
because of this topic!

8. The Prince—Big Picture
o Machiavelli (“The Prince”)—human nature constant, if the same case and
choice, then the same results and consequences. What is constant?  self
interested and egotistical. Everyone wants endless power and wealth,
however these can be in different ratios and a successful prince needs to
know how to use these motivations to manipulate for desired results.
Methodical use of deceit, violence, spoils is a necessity for those in power to
stay in power.
o The Prince is seen as a clear break between political idealism of the Greeks
(and his own earlier work in the Discourses) and political realism. It is seen
as modern political empiricism (“what is”) versus political normative (“what
should be”) philosophy.
o Machiavelli very cynical concerning the role of “man made” religion—
instrument of societal control. However, a successful prince could never be
very religious himself (e.g., Medici), but should make his people as religious

9. Nietzche (1844-1900)
• German philosopher, philologist (Greek & Roman
scholar) and cultural critic. Many works including
Beyond Good and Evil and Genealogy of Morality, and
many, many more in a short period of time due to very
poor health (i.e., migraines, indigestion, war wounds,
horse riding accident, and ultimately an early death at
44).
• His work has had a huge influence in the development
of continental philosophy such as post-structuralism
(e.g., Derrida, Foucault) and existentialism (e.g., Sarte).
Central to his work is the notion of "life-affirmation,"
which questions any doctrine/paradigm/societal culture
that limits people’s creative energy and capacity, no
matter how dominant those forces are.

10. Friedrich Nietzche
o While Nietzche was hostile to notions of anti-Semitism and nationalism, his most
recent work was edited/revised to support these perspectives by his German
nationalist (Nazi sympathizer) sister who took care of him in his last years of mental
illness (she was married to a German nationalist and anti-Semite). Twentieth
century scholars have corrected the historical record in this regard.
o While Nietzche’s work has political relevance, he has been more read and influential
in other social sciences (Sociology), European social science, and the humanities.
He was an advocate of individual struggle and self-expression/realization, but didn’t
concern himself so much with modern political movements, social movements,
political parties or other political organizations.
o One of Nietzche’s major contributions was as a moral skeptic—he believed that
most/all ethical claims are false because there is no such thing as a “universally true
fact,” there are only interpretations of statements. However, he did argue that not all
interpretations are equivalent; some interpretations are of a “noble” character while
others are more decadent.

11. Friedrich Nietzche (continued)
o Nietzche’s statement/thesis “God is Dead” is in several of his works—he questions
how a Christian moral ethic that justifies evil in the world and is considered objective
knowledge makes much sense when most people don’t live that way (they don’t
“walk the talk”).
o He argued that the “death of god” would lead to the unraveling of any universal
perspective on things, along with notions of objective truth. This would then lead to
individuals having their own perspective (narratives) on things (called
“perspectivism”). “Man must fend for himself” and develop a philosophy of life,
which could withstand “the unavoidable sufferings and misfortunes of existence
without flying into in an imaginary world.”
o He believed much academic “philosophy” is ridiculous and biased for the middle
classes.
o He called for a “superman,” a higher type of humanity—the ultimate goal of
evolution. This person would be beyond “good and evil,” would reject the existing
moral order, and an individualist who towers over “the commons herd” mentality.
o Power/knowledge dominant power group ideas.