The Iraqi Conflict

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that Machiavelli's advice regarding the conflict between the Iraqi insurgents and President Bush would be explicit regarding the governance of Iraq: Do not leave governance up to the democratic will of the people because this will only stimulate chaos and revolt and allow minority clerics to stimulate discontent among fundamentalist sympathizers in Iraq. The author points out that Machiavelli would see it foolish for 'Prince' George Bush's own interests to attempt to create a Constitutional democracy in Iraq, which would self-destruct, and thus endanger his own power. The paper relates that Plato from his ideal Socratic oligarchy might agree that democracy would not be the ideal path for Iraq to follow; the problem with Socrates' analysis is that he seems to suggest the most faithful rather than the most popular should hold political sway but, when philosophical correctness within the dominant faith is polarized between Sunni and Shiite, a religious theocracy would be a disaster.

From the Paper:

"Machiavelli would see a democratically elected, Constitutional Prince as anathema and unwise in this situation. In Chapter V of "The Prince", he specifically denotes what should be done concerning the governance of "those states which have been acquired," as Iraq has, through warfare and occupation. For states unlike Iraq, that "have been accustomed to live under their own laws and in freedom," such states should be allowed to remain free and constitutionally governed. "Because such a government, being created by the prince, knows that it cannot stand without his friendship and interest, and does its utmost to support him; and therefore he who would keep a city accustomed to freedom will hold it more easily by the means of its own citizens than in any other way.""

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