Machiavelli's The Prince Analysis

Using Machiavelli’s principles the United States can evaluate its modern issues. In The Prince by Machiavelli, one is exposed to a way of thinking that encompasses both olden and modern societies. Although Machiavelli could not predict the future, his instructions for leaders and countries still hold true today. Focusing on specific topics - the 2003 invasion of Iraq, airport security, and the collection of information by the United States National Security Agency’s - one can clearly see that these topics reflect Machiavelli’s principles. It can then be assumed that up to a point Machiavelli would have condoned these mention topics since the end results were ultimately beneficial to the United States.
When the United States invaded Iraq in
Airport security arouses a strong complaint about privacy. Many would claim the invasive screening and searching as a violation of their Fourth Amendment rights. However, Machiavelli would argue the security is necessary to ensure safety for the passengers and crew. The same sort of dilemma applies to collecting information. The United States National Security Agency, the NSA, collects data about the people of the world including American citizens. The main purpose of this information is to collect foreign intelligence and counterintelligence. Consequently, to collect the necessary information the government must take information from everywhere thus violating the American people’s Fourth Amendment rights. Machiavelli, contrastingly, would disagree with the validity of this concept. As the second would bring about hate while first brings about security. “At the same time he should encourage his citizens to practice their callings peaceably … so that the one should not be deterred from improving his possessions for fear lest they be taken away … the prince ought to offer rewards to whoever wishes to do these things and designs in any way to honor his city or state” (Machiavelli, 111). Basically the use of the airplanes justifies the use of security. Alternately the NSA provides no reward to the individual being robbed of their privacy. This being said, Machiavelli warns of taking the subjects possessions without reward, so even though both concepts violate the Fourth amendment one is more justifiable than the