His practice of International Relations displays the same political atmosphere as it did centuries ago , but it endures similar practices that are still used today and have remained nearly the same. Machiavelli's thoughts and observations regarding the aspect of international relations maintain an undying sense of power; not only does it demonstrate his political character, but it also continues to display a true reflection of the procedures within international relations in the 21st century. In his view, states should act appropriately in a manner that benefits the public and benefits the well being of the state. As Secretary of State, Machiavelli would be the principal spokesperson for the President on U.S. foreign policy. The Secretary serves as a member of the President's "inner cabinet" of advisers and is responsible for preparing the budget for foreign affairs. It’s astonishing because instead of questioning how our politics may serve desired interests, Machiavelli asks how our interests may serve politics. For him, a successful political rule is the most critical thing. Specifically, political decisions are not dependent upon moral judgments. Machiavelli can influence and educate cabinet members or secretaries or just anyone that he's around. "Whether they shall be good or not depends on his prudence, so that the readiest conjecture we can form of the character and sagacity of a prince, is from seeing what sort of men he has about him(The Prince, page 62)." It is always in your best interest to be cautious of who is going to be around. As Secretary of State he should make sure to pick honorable people that are viewed as wise and intelligent. As The President of the United States, is it really in your best interest to be loved or feared?
In the chapter entitled, “On Cruelty and Mercy, and Whether It Is Better to Be Loved Than To Be Feared or the contrary” Machiavelli discusses whether a prince should allow the fear or the love he presents to keep his citizens loyal enough to gain power. Machiavelli states that “Therefore, a prince must not worry about the reproach of cruelty when it is a matter of keeping his subjects united and loyal... From this arises an argument: whether it is better to be loved than to be feared, or the contrary." He should be loved and he should be strong and forceful when needed; otherwise it could cause our nation to be perceived as vulnerable or weak and people could start to take advantage of us. "Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or women of his citizens and subjects(The Prince, page 44)." He should be strong enough to do what's needed, but not too strong that he causes his people to hate him. "Nevertheless a Prince should inspire fear in such a fashion that if he do not win love he may escape hate. For a man may very well be feared and yet not hated, and this will be the case so long as he does not meddle with the property or women of his citizens and subjects(The Prince, page 44)." He should be strong enough to do what's needed, but not too strong that he causes his people to hate
him. Additionally, Machiavelli keeps in mind that as a ruler, you must perform “the real truth of the matter” compared to the “the imagination of it,” because throughout life people never comply or respect what is virtuous. He reflects that “a man who wishes to act entirely up to his professions of virtue soon meets with what destroys him among so much that is evil.” The book “The Prince” is an instruction manual for those properly wishing to sustain power, also it defines the raw actions and regulations that a prince must live follow in order to lead a republic. When analyzing, “The Prince” you can clearly see the similarities in the actions of today’s modern day prince, Barack Obama even though it was written almost 500 years ago. Machiavelli's contribution in this arena was to reveal, through an examination of the past, that behind a facade of pretended integrity, honesty, morality and Christian practices and virtues there was a dark world that consisted, dominated by greed, ruthlessness, hypocrisy, intrigue, deception, lies, and even murder. This ruthless, devious world reported by Machiavelli still exists today, as it did once upon a time, hidden behind a cloak of disguise. This ugly world, a product of the past but ongoing and general, still operates but is concealed from sight by delusions and beliefs shared by most people about life and politics and continues to affect worldly outcomes. In conclusion, in todays era, "The Prince" continues to remain influential on the political and financial operations of our modern world. What better person to place as Secretary of State than the man who influenced the entire idea o. Machiavelli's opinion as secretary of state would have a substantial influence on how future political leaders would run their countries. The key points I addressed were to review the benefits of appointing Noccolo Machiavelli as the secretary of state, analyze his theory, “Is it better to be loved or feared” and discuss the human nature in modern society. Machiavelli demonstrates in his book, how the government is run and how it would modify governments in the future.