Philip Rubenstein
How Machiavellian was Machiavelli?
Summary
“What is it that we all actually want from our political leaders?” That’s the question that occupied much space in Machiavelli’s head. Most would say we want good people in politics because only good people can be relied upon to do good things, but Machiavelli disagrees. Philip Rubinstein takes an in depth look at Machiavelli’s dissent and also discusses how Machiavelli largely ignored the work of the High Renaissance.
Philip Rubenstein
Philip Rubenstein was director of the Parliamentary War Crimes Group, which, in the mid-to-late 1980s, campaigned to bring Nazi war criminals living in the UK to justice. Philip was also the founder-director of the Holocaust Educational Trust and played a role in getting the study of the Shoah onto the national school’s curriculum in the UK. These days, he works with family businesses, advising on governance and continuity from one generation to the next.
Well, very interesting. I mean, Henry Kissinger, again, you know, Machiavelli said, you know, I do this. You know, I say all this for a reason, and the reason is because I care about the state. And so the question really is what you feel Henry Kissinger’s motives were not what you feel his methods were. Kissinger was occasionally asked if he’s read “The Prince” and if he agrees with “The Prince” and Kissinger, interestingly, he always evaded the question like a true politician.