Machiavelli and Empire [Paperback]

The political theory of Machiavelli, his characteristic preoccupations and how those came to be formed.Mikael Hornqvist's study of the political theory of Machiavelli not only offers an original and challenging reading of a number of celebrated texts, but explores both the political and intellectual contexts within which Machiavelli's political vision was formed. Hornqvist stresses the classical and rhetorical character of Machiavelli's thought and analyses his preoccupation with glory and liberality in relation to the revival of Roman ideas of triumphalism. The result is a revealing account of Machiavelli's characteristic preoccupations and how they came to be formed. This is a distinctive and important work.Mikael Hornqvist's study of the political theory of Machiavelli not only offers an original and challenging reading of a number of celebrated texts, but explores both the political and intellectual contexts within which Machiavelli's political vision was formed. Hornqvist stresses the classical and rhetorical character of Machiavelli's thought and analyses his preoccupation with glory and liberality in relation to the revival of Roman ideas of triumphalism. The result is a revealing account of Machiavelli's characteristic preoccupations and how they came to be formed. This is a distinctive and important work.Exploring both the political and intellectual contexts within which Machiavelli's political vision was formed, Mikael Hornqvist stresses the classical and rhetorical character of Machiavelli's thought. He analyzes his preoccupation with glory and liberality in relation to the revival of Roman ideas of triumphalism. The result is a revealing account of the formation of Machiavelli's characteristic preoccupations.1. Another philosophy; 2. The Republic's two ends; 3. The natural desire of states; 4. To destroy them or to live there; 5. The triumphator; 6. Rhetoric of hope and despair; 7. Sublunar writing; Conclusion: Cui Bono? A learned and intriguing book. l#×