What modern applications may be found in Machiavelli's advice in The Prince?

Question

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Answer 1

1. In business sense, Machiavelli’s guidelines for a new Prince are particularly applicable to takeovers, mergers and acquisitions. He suggests that a leader should employ the strength of the lion and the cunning of a fox and that it is best for a leader to be both feared and loved; but since this usually cannot be done, it is safer to be feared . He also suggests that leaders are not required to keep promises when it is no longer advantageous to do so.

    The parallels between acquired companies and the kingdoms are significant. Machiavelli suggests that when an acquired kingdom is difficult to manage, the prince should &quot;come to live in it&quot; . Oftentimes during a major merger or acquisition it is necessary to relocate the corporate offices for just the reasons Machiavelli indicates.

2.   Old loyalties to previous administrations must be wiped out immediately if the new leader is to be able to effectively manage the territory, although Machiavelli does propose the use of colonies over forceful intervention of troops, primarily because of cost .

    A modern manager is constantly confronted with the necessity for change. Seldom will any change benefit everyone. There are losers and it is not uncommon for a disgruntled employee to inflict many harms upon a company.            

    This is good advice for any decision-maker. Indeed, success in modern business usually concerns the ability to manage who are your friends and who are your enemies.

  3. The use of mercenaries is soundly criticized in The Prince. In chapter 12, Machiavelli describes mercenaries as &quot;useless and dangerous&quot; . His position is clear:

           &quot; He who holds his State by means of mercenary troops can never be solidly or securely seated. For such troops are disunited, ambitious, insubordinate, treacherous, insolent among friends, cowardly before foes, and without fear of God or faith with man. Whenever they are attacked defeat follows; so that in peace you are plundered by them, in war by your enemies. And this because they have no tie or motive to keep them in the field beyond their paltry pay&quot;

    His belief that a leader should maintain an army rather than use mercenaries can be compared to the current trend toward utilizing temporary workers. Machiavelli’s advice to today’s manager would be to cultivate his own employees and be extremely cautious in utilizing the popular temporary services.