MACHIAVELLI’S THE PRINCE IN NIGERIA TODAY

Abstract

While the ideas espoused in The Prince have been interpreted in various ways by various scholars, it is generally believed that the ideas cannot be isolated from the political situation of Machiavelli’s city-state, Florence, and Italy at the time of its writing. This article is an attempt to present a comparison between the political situation of Florence and Italy of Machiavelli’s time and that of the present-day Nigeria. It argues that Nigeria’s present political situation can be understood in the light of Italy’s political situation during the time of Machiavelli.Though the Florence and Italy of Machiavelli’s era is quite different in culture and civilization from contemporary Nigeria, findings from the article indicate that the two political situations are similar in terms of central features described in The Prince relating to human nature, lack of national cohesion, and the application of violence and cruelty in socio-political activities. The article will suggest that Nigeria can learn from Machiavelli’s argument that what was needed in Florence was a strong ruler who could provide a unifying force that would allow the city-state to transit from political weakness to political stability. That said, it does not in any way imply that the views canvassed by Machiavelli in The Prince were the perfect solutions to the problems confronting Florence and Italy of his time, nor, that they are the solutions to the present problems confronting Nigeria. It only uses the political situation of Italy during the time of Machiavelli and his argument for a strong and united Italy as insight into the political problems of Nigeria and to make recommendations as to how these problems may be addressed.