Machiavelli in Context | Discourses: Why Machiavelli Is a Republican (Lecture 13)

Lecture 13: Machiavelli begins with a systematic look at republics, including an examination of the importance of geography to history. He then lays out the forms of government—a categorization that can be traced to Aristotle—and gives the classic definition of a republic. It is a form of government that combines elements of monarchy, aristocracy (i.e., government by the best), and democracy. Of the world’s republics, Rome was the greatest.

Machiavelli, in opposition to received thought, argues that it was conflict between the traditional rulers (patricians) and the people (plebeians) that led to the full development of Rome’s republican constitution. Hence, conflict is not in and of itself bad. Rather, conflict can be either destructive or positive in a nation. Although it was good for Rome, it was bad for Florence.

It is worthwhile to note that Machiavelli both employs classical thought and corrects it. The past may be a model, but it is never an exact model, nor is it one without flaws and errors.

Recommended Readings:
Machiavelli, Discourses on Livy, translated by Julia Bondanella and Peter Bondanella, Discourse I, preface–chapter 6.