Machiavelli on international relations / [edited by] Marco Cesa.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527, author.

Contributor:

Cesa, Marco, 1958- editor.

Standardized Title:

Works. Selections. English

Language:

English

Italian

Subjects (All):

International relations--Philosophy.

International relations.

World politics--Philosophy.

World politics.

Physical Description:

xiv, 214 pages : maps ; 24 cm

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

Oxford : Oxford University Press, 2014.

Language Note:

Translated from the Italian.

Summary:

The importance of international politics in Niccolò Machiavelli's thought cannot be denied. Although the familiar ideas expressed in the Prince and the Discourses are obviously relevant, the Art of War, the History of Florence, the dispatches that he wrote during his diplomatic missions, several minor political writings, and the private letters also contain a number of additional insights and observations that refine and enrich his views. This anthology gathers together for the first time all of Machiavelli's writing on international affairs. About 60 excerpts are organized around key themes, such as: the idea that political action takes place in a context that constrains decisions and affects outcomes; the central role played by fear in influencing foreign policy; the ways in which domestic politics and international politics interact; the fundamental functions performed by the armed forces; the similarities and differences in the foreign policy of republics and principalities; the ambivalent relationship between defence and expansion; the curse of neutrality and the ambiguities of alliances; and the precariousness of international arrangements and the inherent instability of any settlement. The introductory chapter and accompanying illustrative materials guide the reader through the conceptual world of Machiavelli and the complex political events of his time. Book jacket.

Contents:

Part I A Way of Thinking and Some Basic Assumptions

1.1 A Compelling Logic 35

1.1.1 Either, Or, Speech Concerning Pisa; Provisions for Retaking Pisa 35

1.1.2 What Duke Valentino Will Do, II Mission to Duke Valentino 37

1.1.3 Reason Guides Analysis, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 29 April 1513 38

1.2 On Human Nature 41

1.2.1 If Men Were All Good, Prince XV, XVII, and XVIII 41

1.2.2 Some Men Desire, whilst Others Fear, Discourses I, 37 and 5 43

1.2.3 Nations Preserve for a Long Time the Same Character, Discourses III, 43 44

1.3 On Times and Affairs 46

1.3.1 The World Remains Very Much in the Same Condition, Discourses I, Introduction, 39; Discourses II, Introduction 46

1.3.2 Times, the Conditions of Things, Wisdom, and Fortune, Letter to Giovan Battista Soderini, 13-21 September 1506 48

1.3.3 What Can-and Cannot-Be Done about Fortune, Prince XXV; Discourses II, 29 50

Part II The International Context: Fear and Self-Help

2.1 Survival-and Security 57

2.1.1 Only Force Makes States Keep their Word, Words to be Spoken on the Law for Appropriating Money, after Giving a Little Introduction and Excuse 57

2.1.2 Security Is More Important than Glory, Life of Castruccio Castracani of Lucca 60

2.1.3 All Means Are Acceptable When the Survival of the State is at Stake, Discourses III, 41-2 61

2.1.4 The Antagonism of Opposing Forces, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 20 June 1513 63

2.2 'Fear Is the Greatest Master' 66

2.2.1 The Popes, Discourses I, 12; Florentine Histories II, 10 66

2.2.2 France, An Account of the Affairs of France 67

2.2.3 Spain, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 16 April 1514 69

2.2.4 Florence, Florentine Histories V, 12-13 70

2.2.5 Naples, Florentine Histories VIII, 19-22 71

2.2.6 Venice, Florentine Histories I, 29 73

2.2.7 Milan, Florentine Histories V, 5 74

2.3 Good Laws and Good Armies 77

2.3.1 The Foundations of All States, Prince XII; Discourses III, 31 77

2.3.2 External Threats and Military Organizations, Art of War II 79

2.3.3 Military Force Is at the Service of Security, Art of War, Introduction and VII 81

Part III Domestic Orders, Disorders, and Foreign Affairs

3.1 The Great Powers Compared 87

3.1.1 France, An Account of the Affairs of France 87

3.1.2 The Empire, Report on the Affairs of Germany 90

3.2 Domestic Affairs and Foreign Affairs 93

3.2.1 Location, Growth, Security-and Laws, Discourses I, 1 93

3.2.2 Domestic Divisions, Forms of Government, and Expansion, Discourses I, 6 95

3.2.3 Domestic Divisions and External Enemies, Florentine Histories, Introduction; V, 4; II, 26; Discourses II, 25 97

3.3 Leaders and Strategies 102

3.3.1 Cosimo Rules over a Divided City, Florentine Histories VII, 5-6 102

3.3.2 Duke Valentino Establishes a New State, Prince VII 103

3.3.3 Julius II Temporizes, I Mission to the Court of Rome 107

3.3.4 Ferdinand II Rises in Power and Prestige, Prince XXI 108

3.4 Republics and Principalities 110

3.4.1 A Republic's Foreign Policy Is Reckless..., Discourses I, 53 110

3.4.2 ... and Slow, Discourses I, 34; II, 15 111

3.4.3 Both Republics and Principalities Resort to Fraud ..., Discourses II, 13 114

3.4.4 ... and End up Subjugating Those Who Invoke Their Help, Discourses II, 20 115

3.4.5 Republics Are Somewhat Better Equipped to Adapt to the Times ..., Discourses III, 9 117

3.4.6 ... and Are Somewhat More Reliable Allies, Discourses I, 59 119

3.4.7 Yet, Republics Are More Predisposed to Grow and Expand-and Are Harsher Masters, Discourses II, 2 121

Part IV Foreign Policy and International Politics

4.1 Preferences, Opportunities, and Constraints 127

4.1.1 When Will One Act? Letter, to Giovanni Ridolfi, 12 June 1506 127

4.1.2 Revisionist Powers and International Stability, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 10 August 1513 128

4.1.3 Goals Change and Necessity Overrules Intentions, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 10 August 1513, and Letter to Francesco Vettori, 26 August 1513 130

4.1.4 On Molesting and Being Molested, Discourses II, 19 132

4.2 Dealing with Threats 134

4.2.1 Balancing Against a Great Power Is Not Easy At All, Discourses I, 33; III, 11 134

4.2.2 Having Achieved Security, States Aim at More, Florentine Histories V, 9-10; V, 17-22 136

4.2.3 Deciding to Resist, Florentine Histories V, 11 140

4.3 Engaging in Expansion 143

4.3.1 The Roman Example, Discourses II, 1 143

4.3.2 A War of Aggression, Florentine Histories IV, 18-20 145

4.3.3 Taking a City by Force May Be Counterproductive, Florentine Histories VII, 30 148

4.3.4 Louis XII's Mistakes, Prince III 150

4.4 Neutrality and Alliances 154

4.4.1 Why Neutrality Is to Be Avoided, Prince XXI 154

4.4.2 Alliances and the Rise of Rome, Discourses II, 4 156

4.4.3 No Way Out, I Mission to France 158

4.4.4 The Risks of Asymmetrical Alliances, II Mission to Duke Valentino 162

4.4.5 Allied Misgivings, Florentine Histories IV, 3-5, 13, 15 165

4.4.6 Coalitions Are Unreliable ..., Florentine Histories VIII, 24-6 167

4.4.7 ... and Litigious, Mission to Mantua on Business with the Emperor 169

Part V History and Analysis

5.1 The Italian State System, 1444-1454, Florentine Histories VI, 11-14, 17-27, 31-2 175

5.2 Entrapping an Ally: France and Florence, III Mission to France 190

5.3 What the Pope Should Do Now, Letter to Francesco Vettori, 10 December 1514 197

5.4 Towards the Sack of Rome, Mission to Francesco Guicciardini at the Camp of the League of Cognac 203.

Notes:

Translated from the Italian.

Includes index.

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

ISBN:

9780199673698

0199673691

OCLC:

872971464