The Truth of Politics

Paper Summary:

The paper analyzes how "Hardball: How Politics is Played - Told by One Who Knows the Game" by Chris Matthews reflects the ideas of Machiavelli's "The Prince." The paper looks at how Matthews reveals many truths about Washington politics that demonstrate how politicians do not have the good of the people at heart. The paper believes that just as Machiavelli knew this, the American people need to face this fact too.

From the Paper:

""The Prince" is probably one of the world's best-known early writings. Machiavelli wrote it in 1513 to gain support from the Medici family, who were the actual ruling "princes" of Italy in the 16th century. He also wrote it to urge them to battle the "barbarians" who continually invaded Italy during the same time, thus creating the "battleground of Europe." The book did not help him gain favor or a place in the Medici's influential political domain, because it did not appear in print until after his death. Like Machiavelli, author Chris Matthews is very familiar with the inner workings of our modern political system, and his book takes a sometimes tongue-in-cheek look at the inner workings of the American political system so the reader will get a greater understanding of what really goes on behind closed doors in Washington D.C."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Machiavelli, Niccolo . The Prince. Translated by Peter Bondanella, ed. Peter Bondanella. Oxford: Oxford University, 1998.
• Matthews, Chris. Hardball: How Politics is Played - Told by One Who Knows the Game. New York: Summit Books, 1988.

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• Essay # 56710 : "Fact vs. Fiction in the Election of 1820"

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