B A C C 1 0 4
THE
MACHIAVELLIAN
PRINCIPLES
GOOD GOVERNANCE & SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
GROUP 2 ALCANTARA | BABOL | BELMONTE
OBJECTIVES
1. Define the Machiavellian Principle and its
purpose;
2. Apply the theory of Machiavellian to Good
Governance; and
3. The relevance of its principles in
Machiavellian theory to Good Governance.
THE MACHIAVELLIAN PRINCIPLE
DEFINITION
Machiavellianism is also known as the
manipulative personality. “Machiavellian
individuals behave in a cold and
manipulative fashion and are insincere
and callous” (Paulhus & Williams, 2002).
A personality trait characterized by a
manipulative, cynical view of the people
and environment around an individual.
Machiavellianism is a personality trait that
involves employing manipulative tactics,
denoting cunningness, and being driven to use
whatever means necessary to gain power. It
emphasizes achieving desired outcomes even if
it means being deceptive and exploitative.
According to Mathieu, C. (2021), the term
Machiavellianism comes from Niccolo
Machiavelli, an Italian diplomat who wrote a
book entitled “The Prince”.
WHO IS NICCOLO MACHIAVELLI?
- A political theorist, and a 16th-century Italian
author known for the concept of “civic virtu’’
wherein the most virtuous and just leader, acts not
according to a stubborn ideology that he holds but
maneuvers as necessary - keeping people guessing.
Machiavelli popularized the idea that
“The ends justify the means”.
Ex: According to Zemo, H. (2021), “It was never personal you were simply a means
to a necessary end”
He explains that rulers should use any means at
their disposal to get what they want, including
committing immoral deeds.
Though some researchers suggest that people
with high Machiavellianism levels focus on
short-term interest and instantaneous profit,
they are also known to be strategic planners
who could succeed in the long run by
misleading and deceiving others into
cooperation and hiding their true intentions
(Christie & Geis, 2013; Wilson et al., 1996;
Spitzer et al., 2007).
According to Borghini, A. (2019), “Niccolo
Machiavelli was one of Western philosophy's
most influential political theorists. His most-
read treatise, The Prince, turned Aristotle’s
theory of virtues upside down, shaking the
European conception of government and its
fundamental foundations”.
“Machiavelli lived in Florence, Italy his whole
life, during the peak of the Renaissance
movement, in which he took part. He is also the
author of several political treaties from “The
Niccolò Machiavelli (1469-1527) Discourses on the First Decade of Titus Livius,
and so on” (Borghini, A., 2019).
LITERARY WORKS
1. THE PRINCE
Main Thought:
1. “The end justifies the means”
2. “A leader should be prepared to do evil when necessary
to gain power”.
De Principatibus (literally: "On Princedoms") was the first
work composed by Machiavelli in San Casciano mostly
during 1513; it was published only in 1532. The Prince is a
short treatise of twenty-six chapters in which Machiavelli
instructs a young pupil of the Medici family on how to
acquire and maintain political power. Famously centered
on the right balancing of fortune and virtue in the prince, it
is by far the most-read work by Machiavelli and one of the
most prominent texts of Western political thought.
Borghini, A. (2019, February 3). Machiavelli’s life, philosophy, and Influence. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/niccolo-machiavelli-1469-1527-2670474
2. THE DISCOURSES
Despite the popularity of "The Prince", Machiavelli’s
major political work is probably The Discourses on
the First Decade of Titus Livius. Its first pages were
written in 1513, but the text was completed only
between 1518 and 1521.
If The Prince instructed how to govern a
princedom, The Discourses were meant to educate
future generations to achieve and maintain
political stability in a republic. As the title suggests,
the text is structured as a free commentary on the
first ten volumes of Ab Urbe Condita Libri, the
major work of Roman historian Titus Livius (59
B.C.-17 A.D.)
Borghini, A. (2019, February 3). Machiavelli’s life, philosophy, and Influence. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/niccolo-machiavelli-1469-1527-2670474
The Discourses are divided into three volumes:
the first devoted to internal politics; the second
to foreign politics; the third one to a comparison
of the most exemplary deeds of individual men in
ancient Rome and Renaissance Italy.
Suppose the first volume reveals Machiavelli’s
sympathy for the republican form of government.
In that case, it is especially in the third that we
find a lucid and pungent critical gaze at the
political situation of Renaissance Italy.
Borghini, A. (2019, February 3). Machiavelli’s life, philosophy, and Influence. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/niccolo-machiavelli-1469-1527-2670474
MACHIAVELLIANISM
According to Borghini, A. (2019), “By the end of the
sixteenth century, The Prince had been translated into
all major European languages and was the subject of
heated disputes in the most important courts of the
Old Continents. Often misinterpreted, the core ideas
of Machiavelli were so despised that a term was coined
to refer to them: Machiavellianism.
These days the term indicates a cynical attitude,
according to which politicians are justified to do any
tort if the end requires it”.
Borghini, A. (2019, February 3). Machiavelli’s life, philosophy, and Influence. ThoughtCo. https://www.thoughtco.com/niccolo-machiavelli-1469-1527-2670474
PURPOSE
Machiavelli encourages leaders to lie, manipulate, and use
coercive persuasion to serve their own needs. Individuals
who score high on Machiavellianism are not necessarily in
a position of formal power but engage in techniques to
boost their self-worth.
They are skilled in impression management techniques
and have a natural talent for influencing others with the
main aim of maximizing opportunities for their own
personal power.
APPLICATION TO GOOD GOVERNANCE
Machiavellians have little regard for adhering to moral or ethical
standards. They focus on money, power, and competition and place little
emphasis on community building, self-care, and family commitment;
they aim to win at any cost (Spielberger & Butcher, 2013).
Within the workplace, machiavellians engage in flattery, deceit, and
coercion that can be abusive (Calhoon, 1969).
5 ETHICAL DILEMMAS:
1. What matters potentially influence your ability to work in the public
interest and represent all constituents equally and fairly?
2. Do you have personal interests that conflict with your duty of loyalty
to the public you have been elected to serve?
3. Can you competently fulfill the responsibilities of your office?
4. Do you conduct yourself honestly and with the integrity expected
from public officials?
5. To maintain the public trust, do you act in a manner that is
transparent and accountable to your constituents?
RELEVANCE TO GOOD GOVERNANCE & SOCIAL
RESPONSIBILITY
The Machiavellian Theory is important especially in Good Governance
because it shows what not to become and what to avoid, this theory is the
opposite of the principles of transparency, accountability, and equity.
While some aspects of Machiavellianism might be strategically useful, its
principles clash with the values of democracy, human rights, and ethical
governance.
Governance that relies on deception, manipulation, and the pursuit of
power risks losing public trust and creating an unjust society.
SHORT SCENARIO: [EXAMPLES]
Political Machiavellianism:
Some political leaders might display high levels of Machiavellianism.
They may be extremely strategic and often manipulate situations and
people to achieve their goals. They might make false promises to gain
votes, engage in smear campaigns against their opponents, and lie or
deceive in the quest for power.
References
Blanco, M. R. (2023, September 11). The machiavellian principle | PDF | religion & spirituality. SCRIBD.
https://www.scribd.com/doc/167273133/The-Machiavellian-Principle
Borghini, A. (2019, February 3). Machiavelli’s life, philosophy, and Influence. ThoughtCo.
https://www.thoughtco.com/niccolo-machiavelli-1469-1527-2670474
Santa Clara University. (n.d.). Unavoidable ethical dilemmas for public officials. Markkula Center for Applied Ethics.
https://www.scu.edu/government-ethics/resources/unavoidable-ethical-dilemmas-for-public-officials/
Sus, V., & Drew, C. (2023, September 8). Machiavellianism: 10 examples and definition. Helpful Professor.
https://helpfulprofessor.com/machiavellianism-examples/
Towler, Dr. A. (2020, December 31). Machiavellianism: What it is, how to recognize and cope with Machiavellians: CQ Net -
management skills for everyone. CQ Net - Management skills for everyone!
https://www.ckju.net/en/dossier/machiavellianism-what-it-how-recognize-and-cope-
machiavellians#:~:text=Machiavellians%20have%20little%20regard%20in,Spielberger%20%26%20Butcher%2C%202013).
Zhang, A. H., & MacCann, C. (2023). Machiavellianism: Happiness is associated with higher narcissism but lower
psychopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the relationship between happiness and the Dark Triad.
ScienceDirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/machiavellianism
[IMAGES]
Machiavelli, niccolo the prince first edition. Raptis Rare Books | Fine Rare and Antiquarian First Edition Books for Sale.
(2021a, February 5). https://www.raptisrarebooks.com/product/machiavels-discourses-upon-the-first-decade-of-t-livius-
translated-out-of-the-italian-to-which-is-added-his-prince-machiavelli-first-edition/
Machiavels discourses upon the first decade of T. Livius translated out of the Italian; with some Marginall animadversions
noting and taxing his errors. [Machiavelli’s discourses]. - raptis rare books: Fine rare and antiquarian first edition books for
sale. Raptis Rare Books | Fine Rare and Antiquarian First Edition Books for Sale. (2021b, May 15).
https://www.raptisrarebooks.com/product/machiavels-discovrses-upon-the-first-decade-of-t-livius-translated-out-of-
the-italian-first-edition-copy/
Marchesi, F. (2024, November 1). Machiavelli in the twenty-First Century. Edinburgh University Press Blog.
https://euppublishingblog.com/2024/11/01/machiavelli-in-the-twenty-first-century/
The prince by Niccolò Machiavelli. Project Gutenberg. (2022, November 16). https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/57037
Travers, M. (2024, October 16). A psychologist reveals 2 signs of a dark “machiavellian personality.” Forbes.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2024/10/11/a-psychologist-reveals-2-signs-of-a-dark-machiavellian-
personality/
Wikimedia Foundation. (2025, February 4). Niccolò Machiavelli. Wikipedia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Niccol%C3%B2_Machiavelli
THANK YOU
FOR
L I S T E N I N G!!
ALCANTARA | BABOL | BELMONTE
