The Prince in a Democracy
Niccolo Machiavelli THE MIND OF THE PRINCE The only goal of a Prince is to grab and keep power. Others may lust after wealth or prestige but all that matters to the Prince is power. Power is the only reality. Information is just a tool to support and increase power. Power is personal. The Prince's interests are the country's interests. Politics is a zero-sum game. You win, your enemies lose. There are no democratic negotiations or compromises. Temporary alliances can be broken. Becoming a Prince in a democracy is more complicated than inheriting and keeping power or gaining it through conquest. BUILDING YOUR POLITICAL BASE The Prince sees society divided into three groups - supporters, enemies, and the silent, fearful politically passive. You share with your supporters a deeply negative view of the future of society. Your supporters see a bright past compared to a dark future. You share this vision. You tell them that only you can fight against or reverse thi...