Prince, Tyrant and Niccolo Machiavelli

Paper Summary:

This paper agrees with Machiavelli's idea that the only distinction between the prince and tyrant is the latter's improper motivation in self-gain. The author uses examples pertaining to World War II such as Churchill and Hitler and to Idi Amin. The paper presents quotations from both "The Prince" and "The Discourses" and commentary on Machiavelli's times and career, which shaped his political thought."

From the Paper:

"This paper discusses the distinction made between a prince and a tyrant by Niccolo Machiavelli (1469-1527), a figure often referred to as the father of modern political theory. In his well-known "The Prince" (1513) and the manuscript known as "The Discourses" (1531) which seem to further develop many of the ideas found in "The Prince", Machiavelli made clear the important distinction that he saw. Machiavelli's manner of thinking continues to be visible in the contemporary world, in distinctions that can be made between leaders and ordinary tyrants to have achieved political power."

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