The Machiavellian Moment
Encyclopedia
The Machiavellian Moment is a work of intellectual history by J. G. A. Pocock (Princeton University Press
, 1975). In the book, Pocock posits a connection between republican thought in early 16th century Florence
, English-Civil War Britain
, and the American Revolution
.
A "Machiavellian
moment" is that moment when a new republic first confronts the problem of maintaining the stability of its ideals and institutions. Machiavellian thought was a response to a series of crises facing early 16th century Florence in which a seemingly virtuous state was on the cusp of destruction. In response, Machiavelli sought to revive classical republican ideals. Works like The Prince
, some pre-English Civil War
thinkers, and a group of American Revolution
ary personalities all faced similar such moments and offered related sets of answers.
The Machiavellian Moment has come to represent the so-called republican synthesis, which holds that America
was born with a fear of corruption and a desire to promote classical virtue.
Princeton University Press
-Further reading:* "". Artforum International, 2005.-External links:* * * * *...
, 1975). In the book, Pocock posits a connection between republican thought in early 16th century Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, English-Civil War Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and the American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
.
A "Machiavellian
Niccolò Machiavelli
Niccolò di Bernardo dei Machiavelli was an Italian historian, philosopher, humanist, and writer based in Florence during the Renaissance. He is one of the main founders of modern political science. He was a diplomat, political philosopher, playwright, and a civil servant of the Florentine Republic...
moment" is that moment when a new republic first confronts the problem of maintaining the stability of its ideals and institutions. Machiavellian thought was a response to a series of crises facing early 16th century Florence in which a seemingly virtuous state was on the cusp of destruction. In response, Machiavelli sought to revive classical republican ideals. Works like The Prince
The Prince
The Prince is a political treatise by the Italian diplomat, historian and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli. From correspondence a version appears to have been distributed in 1513, using a Latin title, De Principatibus . But the printed version was not published until 1532, five years after...
, some pre-English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
thinkers, and a group of American Revolution
American Revolution
The American Revolution was the political upheaval during the last half of the 18th century in which thirteen colonies in North America joined together to break free from the British Empire, combining to become the United States of America...
ary personalities all faced similar such moments and offered related sets of answers.
The Machiavellian Moment has come to represent the so-called republican synthesis, which holds that America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
was born with a fear of corruption and a desire to promote classical virtue.