Philip Bobbitt wrote two masterworks of political science: The Shield of Achilles: War, Peace, and the Course of History and Terror and Consent: The Wars for the Twenty-First Century. Both of these books present detailed analysis of major topics. However, The Garments of Court and Palace weighs in at a svelte 270 pages (Bobbitt’s other two tomes have close to a thousand pages each). Machiavelli holds a paradoxical place in political science. Many critics claim Machiavelli marks the beginning of modernity in government. Others, like Leo Strauss in Thoughts on Machiabelli, say Machiavelli presents an amoral approach to governing. Bobbitt’s view of Machiavelli recognizes the amoral aspects of Machiavelli’s philosophy. But Bobbitt acknowledges that sometimes political leaders and governments need to resort to amoral techniques to survive. The current NSA controversy illustrates this dilemma. How much of our privacy are we willing to give up for security? As the debate rages on, Bobbitt’s brilliant book suggests we’ll do what we have to do–just as Machiavelli suggested over 500 years ago. GRADE: A
A fascinating book, from the sound of it. Though the first two books are beyond my stamina of reading/thinking about the topics, this one may well be sufficiently accessible in both topic and volume. Fine short review, Mr. Kelley.
Thanks for your kind words, Rick! Philip Bobbitt writes clear, concise prose. And he’s a World-Class thinker. If you read only one book on Machiavelli this is the one to choose.
Not just one book on Machiavelli, one book on poly-sci.
Rick, one of my daughter’s majors as an undergrad was Political Science. She must have gotten my poly-sci gene.
I read THE PRINCE a few years ago for the first time and it was quite interesting. Some of it was pretty modern.
Jeff, I occasionally use THE PRINCE in my management classes. You bet it sounds modern! Even though THE PRINCE is 500 years old, many of Machiavelli’s thoughts seem fresh and new.