Finding
Nevertheless, Machiavelli counsels political leaders to always remember that violence remains a significant factor in political life.
Paper
Solitary Confinement and the Economy of Violence
Abstract
When discussing Machiavelli many years ago, political philosopher Sheldon Wolin coined the phrase “the economy of violence.” Machiavelli, he noted, highlights the presence of violence in political life. For Machiavelli, the “hard core of power is violence and to exercise power is often to bring violence to bear on someone else’s person or possessions.”2 Rather than trying to eliminate violence altogether, political leaders should manage it carefully. The politician, Machiavelli recognizes, cannot continually use violence without losing the respect of the governed. In fact, the “indiscriminate exercise of force and the constant revival of fear” create “widespread apprehension and hatred.”3 The politician must therefore use violence selectively and dramatically. Machiavelli fully recognizes that violence constitutes only one ingredient in sustaining political order. Institutions, personal charisma, common values, and a desire to share a common good all contribute to order. Nevertheless, Machiavelli counsels political leaders to always remember that violence remains a significant factor in political life.
Authors
Derek S. Jeffreys
Journal
Journal name not available for this finding