NationStates Jolt Archive

Inspired by the recent poll that sought to sort out just what our average political knowledge level is, Machiavello's famous book, The Prince, immediately came to my mind.

I'm sure many of us have read it, perhaps time and time again, and its theme and objectives as literary work are quite evident. The question being, however, would you agree with its courses of action? Or is the book outdated and presently useless? Moreover, just how morally acceptable would you say Niccolo's book is?

Machiavelli's book was one of advice. In the context of giving advice to a ruler, morals are an issue for the ruler because it is his decison, and his responsibility. The ruler's role, essentially is to pick through the advice according to his own conscience.