Understanding Machiavelli over Absolute Monarchy and Republic

OpenAlex İngilizce

Machiavelli generally grounds his discourses on the government, regime, the ways that empower the government and the policy to be followed in determining the state power and limits and on the elements that lead to the decay or collapse of the state. According to Machiavelli, all the regimes somehow come to an end. What is important is to create a good regime construction and to turn this into a long-lasting structure. Machiavelli, generally mentioned by absolute monarchy, actually supported the absolute monarchy in a certain period especially during the establishment of the state. In his work called Discourses on Livy, he mentioned the supporting of the republican regime during the development stage of the state. Moreover, he emphasized that republican regime is essential for the continuity and longevity of the state. In this study the answers given by Machiavelli, regarded as the founder of modern state theory, to the issue about how a good and long-lasting regime can be established are attempted to be discussed based on the author’s point of view regarding absolute monarchy and republican regimes. At this point, it is worth discussing the approach of Machiavelli to Republic, whose discourses were associated with and evaluated as absolute monarchy and even tyranny. Of course, while this discussion is made, based on the principle of period thinking, Italy and even Europe at the time when the philosopher lived should also be considered. Especially including Italy in the evaluation, which had not yet provided its central union and was governed by small principalities has a vital importance in terms of accurately identifying the opinions of Machiavelli. While the research is made, descriptive and historical research methods have been used.