Politics, War and Diplomacy in late fifteenthcentury Italy: Machiavellian thoughts and Venetian examples

Butters, Humfrey (2014) Politics, War and Diplomacy in late fifteenthcentury Italy: Machiavellian thoughts and Venetian examples. In: Venice and the Veneto during the Renaissance: the Legacy of Benjamin Kohl. Reti Medievali E-Book (21). Firenze University Press, Firenze, pp. 141-153. ISBN 978-88-6655-663-3

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Abstract

The essay discusses theoretical and practical aspects of politics, war and diplomacy in late fifteenth-century Italy, using Machiavelli’s works as an example of theory, Venetian foreign policy as an example of practice. The attempt to present Machiavelli as a founding father of the Realist school of International Relations is considered and dismissed. Major features of Machiavelli’s thought are treated: his vision of the intimate connections between foreign affairs, war and political life; his distinguishing power from force; and his grasp of the importance of reputation. The value of these as a guide to the politics of Italy between 1454 and 1494 is assessed, with particular reference to Venice, and to the merits and defects of Machiavelli’s famous comparison between ancient Rome and Venice. The career of Roberto di Sanseverino is examined to show that one premise upon which that comparison was based, that condottieri were unreliable, was sometimes well founded.

Item Type:	Book Section
Additional Information:	Nella sezione: "Government and Society in Venice".
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Middle Ages; 15th century; Venice; Politics; War; Diplomacy; Nicolò Machiavelli
Subjects:	D History General and Old World > D History (General) > D111 Medieval History
Depositing User:	dr Vincenzo De Luise
Date Deposited:	13 Apr 2019 14:15
Last Modified:	01 Oct 2024 11:24
URI:	http://www.rmoa.unina.it/id/eprint/5002

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