The Measure of Machiavelli? Fear, Love, Hatred, and Trump. (December 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Brunello, Anthony R.
• Is Part Of: World affairs. Volume 182:Number 4(2019)
• Page Start: 324
• Page End: 349
• Publication Date: 2019-12
• Subjects: President Trump -- Political Theory -- Machiavelli -- Leadership -- Populism -- Presidential Success -- Lion and Fox -- Fear and Love in Politics -- The Prince -- Nationalism -- United States -- The American Republic; Presidente Donald Trump -- Teoría política -- Nicolás Maquiavelo -- Liderazgo -- Populismo -- Éxito presidencial -- El León y la Zorra -- Temor y amor en la política -- El príncipe -- Nacionalismo -- Estados Unidos de América; 特朗普总统， -- 政治理论， -- 马基雅维利， -- 领导力， -- 民粹主义， -- 总统的成功之举， -- 狮子与狐狸， -- 政治中的畏与爱， -- 《君主论》， -- 民族主义， -- 美国， -- 美利坚共和国; International relations -- Periodicals; Peace -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law) -- Periodicals; United States -- Foreign relations -- Periodicals; Arbitration (International law); International relations; Peace; United states; Foreign relations; Internationale politiek; Periodicals; 327.05
• DOI: 10.1177/0043820019884940
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0043-8200

Abstract

The rise of populist leaders like Trump certainly raises issues of leadership and effectiveness. The current populist moment may be one of "Cultural Backlash, " but there is also merit in resurrecting and assessing the work of Niccolò Machiavelli in evaluating Trump's leadership and success. Would Machiavelli, with his emphasis on a "success ethic" and a studied moral indifference, rate Trump to be a "great prince?" This article analyzes Machiavelli's role and contemporary relevance as well as what he might say about a leader like Donald Trump. Machiavelli offers one insight into a style of leader that exposes the dangers of ignorance allied with self-interest in a nationalist pose. Also, we can visualize (with Machiavelli's help) a modern reconsideration of the dimensions of love, hate, and fear in 21st century leadership—especially among national populist leaders. This matters politically to us all.