Locke and Machiavelli- Key Points to Remember

Locke

First major liberal thinker.
Writing after English Civil War and Glorious Revolution
Great influence on what we now know as western liberal democracy.
His ideas helped to shape the American constitution.
Argued against ideas of Hobbes
Rejected concept of “Divine Right of Kings”.
Believed that man was essentially a social animal and that the advent of society didn’t come out of necessity, but out of a mutual desire for community.
Thought that man was born with “natural rights” of life, liberty & property.
Property being the most important right as those who owned property would pay taxes and that in return for this, then government would ensure that their right to property wasn’t take away from them.
Only property owners should be able to vote.
Put forward the idea of the Social Contract- man should enter into a contract with the state.
By surrendering some of his rights, government would ensure his natural rights.
If government failed to keep their side of the bargain, then man had the duty to withdraw his support and government should be therefore replaced.
Although liberal, believed in death sentence if man broke his side of the bargain with the state.
Thought that man had the duty to defend his country when needed- e.g. when the state is attacked.
Locke was in favour of “government by consent”.
Great work “Two Treatises of Government “.
Government would have authority and non-interventionist as much as possible- the state is only called upon when needed.

The phrase “Machiavellian” has come to cunning and manipulative.
Lived before Italy was a republic and was a series of city-states that were constantly at war.
Influenced by Ancient Romans/Greeks
We are unsure whether his major work “The Prince” was meant to be a satire of serious.
But, we do know that Machiavelli has influenced politics, especially the idea of propaganda, e.g. Mussolini.
Believed in “realpolitik”.
Thought that the leader, “The Prince” should be seen to have “more vices than virtues”.
People want a strong leader- think of political leaders from the twentieth century like Maggie Thatcher and Winston Churchill.
The leader should always get what he wants by making people think that he is acting in their interests.
Idea of “stinginess”.
Leader should obtain power by any means necessary and should retain that power at all costs.
If seen not to be holding onto power, then power should be removed and there should be a new Prince.
Machiavelli thought that the prince should be feared but never hated, as his citizens would turn against him.
Thought that the army should be rewarded above any other members of society, as you need to ensure their loyalty to stay in power.