Thursday, June 30, 2011

Radio review – BBC - “The Prince” by Machiavelli

Entertaining abridgement of the famous book – as the introduction points out, it’s a sort of job application by Machiavelli to be an adviser to a prince. Famously immoral, it’s actually full of common, albeit ruthless, sense: if you have to be ruthless, so it in short, decisive hits; install colonies will be an easier way to control conquered territories; it's easier to rule territories which you share cultural things with; it's better to be feared than loved. Some of his things I think are wrong - such as going to war is always good (it can cost you a lot of money and weaken your position).

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