Kautilya and Niccolò Machiavelli, though separated by time, geography, and civilisational milieu, are often regarded as archetypal figures of realist political thought within their respective traditions—Kautilya within ancient Indian political philosophy and Machiavelli within Renaissance European political theory. Both Arthashastra and The Prince articulate pragmatic and strategic doctrines of governance, emphasizing the preservation of political … Continue reading How do Kautilya and Machiavelli differ and converge in their respective conceptions of statecraft within their civilisational and historical contexts?
Tag: realist political theory
In what ways did Machiavelli’s empiricist approach to political analysis contribute to the emergence of political science as a distinct and secular discipline grounded in the study of power, statecraft, and pragmatic governance, independent of moral and theological constraints?
Machiavelli’s Empiricism and the Emergence of Political Science: A Secular Break from Theological Normativity Introduction Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527) occupies a foundational place in the history of political thought, not merely as a controversial figure who challenged prevailing moral orthodoxy, but more significantly as an intellectual progenitor of modern political science. His empiricist approach—grounded in observation, … Continue reading In what ways did Machiavelli’s empiricist approach to political analysis contribute to the emergence of political science as a distinct and secular discipline grounded in the study of power, statecraft, and pragmatic governance, independent of moral and theological constraints?
Analyze Machiavelli’s treatment of religion in the context of political power, with reference to The Prince and Discourses on Livy. How does he conceptualize the instrumental use of religion in statecraft, and in what ways does this reflect a secular and realist orientation in early modern political thought?
Machiavelli on Religion and Political Power: Instrumentality, Realism, and Secularism in Early Modern Thought Introduction Niccolò Machiavelli (1469–1527), often regarded as the founder of modern political science, introduced a radically new way of thinking about politics—one that eschewed moralism and idealism in favor of realism, pragmatism, and power dynamics. His treatment of religion in The … Continue reading Analyze Machiavelli’s treatment of religion in the context of political power, with reference to The Prince and Discourses on Livy. How does he conceptualize the instrumental use of religion in statecraft, and in what ways does this reflect a secular and realist orientation in early modern political thought?