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Machiavelli political science
Machiavelli political philosophy
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Hardball: How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game by Christopher Matthews compares politics to a game played by individuals seeking to gain and maintain power. Matthews defines hardball as “clean, aggressive Machiavellian politics. It is the discipline of gaining and holding power, useful to any profession or undertaking, but practiced more openly and unashamedly in the world of public affairs,” (13). Matthews offers maxims to explain tactics and truths that better a person’s position in the game of politics. These maxims include “It’s Better to Receive than Give”, “Keep Your Enemies in Front of You”, and “Hang a Lantern on Your Problem”. These three maxims have proven successful in bringing success to those who utilized the tactic. The game of hardball is all about keeping up a good reputation to your peers and to the public. A successful politician can build up alliances. It is definitely impossible for someone to make their way to the top without any help. Instead of getting help, a person could make a mistake by “limit[ing] their horizons to missions they can accomplish alone” (15). These people ultimately lose the game. Matthews describes one way to forge an alliance in the maxim “It’s better to receive than give”. While confidence is a good thing, too much pride can end in disaster. A way to avoid looking too confident is asking for help. During the General Elections of 1978, Jimmy Carter asked for the help of those who had lost on election night. This is wise because they looked for work and wanted to be needed. Votes and alliances can be made simply because of a feeling of inclusion in the process. A politician asking for help is “offering a chance to join in the political action, to be part of his success”... ... middle of paper ... ...duals won the game and rose to power. Fundamentally, these people cared about what is deserved for the good of the people. Unfortunately, politics often has a negative view because of association with tyranny and abuse of power. Hardball: How Politics is Played by One Who Knows the Game does not help alleviate this view because of its tones of ruthlessness. Ambition, which is often viewed negatively, is a critical asset to succeed for one who wishes to make a name for them. Hopefully, one day people will not be as cynical about the point of politics. The real and true goal of politics is to generate leaders in the government that will make decisions based on the opinions of the people for the benefit of the people. Works Cited Matthews, Christopher. Hardball: How Politics Is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game New York, NY: HarperPerennial, 1988. Print.
Before I started reading the book Hardball, by Chris Matthews, I had a preconceived idea of what the content of this book would be. From the title of the book I drew the conclusion that Matthews would write more about the darker side of politics and how it is 'really' played. I don't really know much about politics, and frankly, I don't care much for politics. However, when I hear the word hardball in the context of politics, I think of blood shed. I think of dirty tricks and blackmail and money changing hands in dark places. I even think of the mafia to some degree when I hear the word hardball. Perhaps my notion of hardball was a bit more than what Chris Matthews describes in his book. After reading the book, I think I understood Chris Matthews' meaning of the word hardball. Maybe I had the wrong idea, or my idea was too exaggerated. Hardball, as I understood after reading this book is "hard-politics", or "raw politics". If every instance of the word 'ball' in the book would be changed to "politics", the meaning would remain intact. Therefore, this book describes the art of playing "ball" in Washington and being successful at it. My first impressions of the book were that it was easy to read, made very interesting by the anecdotes Mathews includes, very informative, very logical and understandable. Just as I found out after reading the first book by Susan Guber, the strategies involved with politics can be seamlessly applied to life in general. The book teaches a series of axioms that all politicians ought to learn to be successful. There's a lot to be learnt from the different tactics described and I can see how someone following these strategies would have an easier time 'getting ah...
Gabriel Kolko is one of American historians and authors. He wrote a book named “The Triumph of Conservatism: A Re-interpretation of American History, 1900-1916”, and “Meat Inspection: Theory and Reality” is an article in that book. It introduced about Meat Inspection Act in Progressive Era: the main reasoned why it happened, how it affected on legislation, and how government- especially president Roosevelt- executed the new law. Through this article, Kolko also showed his opinion about supporting “free market” and condemning “political capitalism”.
Politics This novel circles around the aspect of the inner workings of politics. Chris Matthews communicates his ideas on politics by giving details and tips on how to be successful in that world. These tips and steps Matthews gives portrays the world of politics as a game and by following those steps given will help the politician succeed. The main theme he orbits around is the workings of politics. The chapters cover so many aspect of politics from dealing with the press to the people that you should involve yourself with. The author combines the different styles
The simulation of a Congressional committee in class could arguably be called a success. One might ask why the “arguably” adjective is included, and it is for a very simple reason. While most of the students took the assignment seriously, a significant number did not really attempt to do the necessary work required of their role in it. This can be due to a fundamental misunderstanding of the exercise. It is important to know that while it can be inferred that this is a statement about the failure, this essay aims to explore the opposite. The exercise was successful in demonstrating ideals of federalism and civil liberties, while offering a glimpse into the basic nature of the system and how those willing could invariably exploit. This last part of the statement contains a caveat, that exploitation is extremely limited but none the less significant.
Politics is defined as “the way people decide who gets what, when, where, how, and why—without resorting to violence” (McDonough 20). The author asserts that politics is the alternative pathway for a society to make decisions besides choosing violent means to go about doing so. Instead of using force, politicians use words and the method of persuasion in order to get what they want. When a society has a group of people who feel they are not fairly represented by their elected officials, they will often turn to violence in order to implement changes to the political process that will put in place the rules and regulations they are seeking.
In the United States government, it is very likely to see the unbalanced relationship between career-emphasis work and personal achievement. Politics as a whole is a very fast-paced, insensible career area. Politicians are driven to achieve not because of personal interests but because of career advancement. ‘The West Wing’ entertains viewers with the relationships of its characters, such as the “one-night stand” Sam had with a female prostitute that began the show in the first episode, “Pilot”. The show falsely gives attention to the personal lives of the characters, most likely for entertainment value, that would otherwise be ignored in the reality of politics. “Why ‘The West Wing’ Is A Terrible Guide to American Democracy” explains that the show “falls prey to the fallacy of personality-driven politics” (3). The article also explains other ways to make the show more politically correct for
“The Candidate” is a prime example to the inside of a campaign and the inside of an election. Elections do not only include the candidate themselves but the campaign manager, the supporters, the nominee’s family and the media crew. During “The Candidate” democratic nominee John McKay uses many strategies in order to “not” win his election for senator of California. Going into this campaign McKay was in hopes that he would not win the election, as time passed his view of the election changed as did his strategies.
During Charlie Martin’s campaign to become U. S. Senator, his advantage over his opponent was that Martin was the incumbent. The term “folk-poking” generally refers to shaking hands, meeting people, and making public appearances. Elected officials use this tactic because it helps the official appear to be “of the people.” Also, it may help a potential official get his name out. Martin’s opponent, the Muffler Man, Lee Butler has several advantages over Martin. Some of these advantages are that Butler is a newcomer to politics, has his own radio show, the bible biker tour, is a well-known celebrity, and is very wealthy. The significance of family plays an important factor in Martin’s campaign. When running for an elected office the candidate’s family will be under much scrutiny.
Political machines were supported by continuing immigration, sustained by patronage, enlarged by wealth, and in the end were weeded out by reformers progress for public rather than private good, and caused by the need for public works and skilled workers, after the population of cities expanded.
The public falls into three main traps about politicians. The first main trap that the public falls into is “The Leader-and-Follower Trap.” The public wants politicians to be leaders, but when they do not lead the way citizens want, they are disliked. Expecting politicians to lead the way they believe the country should go and also follow what citizens want is unfair to them, (Medvic p. 9). Another trap that the public falls into is the “The Principled-and-Pragmatic Trap.” The public wants politicians to stand up for their beliefs, but to also negotiate to solve issues...
In the story “Inez” by Merle Hodge, Mr. James appears each collection day to fearlessly collect rent, or evict if needed, however, he demonstrates no such courage towards his wife as he does with his tenants . Though he sees an injustice in his wife’s demands, he would rather face an angry tenant and hungry children than fail in his duty toward her. The courage he demonstrates while collecting rent is not evident when facing his wife. Mr. James is a hypocrite for enabling his wife’s greed even though morally he knows it is wrong. A similar moral conflict is evident through the behavior and actions of some politicians seeking election. Politicians run for election, willing to say anything to get elected, though morally they may not agree with what they say.
Politics, although a very abhorred profession, is a necessity for society, and requires good leaders who make good political decisions for their constituents. Unfortunately, there is always a negative connotation associated with politicians, as they are usually seen as corrupt, lying, and scheming people. There are many dif...
One of the first things we have learned about politics this semester is that there is a constant struggle over the true definition, especially in how broad or narrow the definition is. When Thomas Jefferson wrote that “Politics are such torment that I would advise everyone I love not to mix with them.” it is understood that he is referring to the electoral and governmental aspects of politics. If Dr. Michael Rivage-Seul and Leslie Cagan were to read this quote, they would argue that Jefferson has an extremely narrow view of politics and that if one were to desire a more accurate definition, they would have to look further than the restrictive culturally accepted definition. Martin Luther King, Jr. would also disagree with this definition but he I think he would have a bigger problem with the advice that Jefferson is giving. All three of the authors that we have looked at would, in one way or another, be forced to disagree with Jefferson based on the principles that they try to uphold and emphasize in their writings and speeches.
Neil Postman begins chapter 9 of his book Amusing Ourselves to Death: Public Discourse in the Age of Show Business, by discussing if politics is actually a spectator sport or if politics is just like the way show business is run. This chapter is titled ‘Reach out and Elect someone’, and Postman first writes about how politics is more like a "spectator sport" or, as Ronald Reagan put it, "like show business" (125).
“Politics as a Vocation” is a lecture written by Max Weber, a German political economist whose beliefs and ideas on politics influenced many. The universe of his writing is focused around the nature of politics, and the way people were involved and influenced by politics, which was eventually molded into the modern politics, as we know it today. Weber explains that the focus of his lecture is surrounded between two beliefs of politics, that being leadership and relation of a state. Weber mentions that “every state is founded on force” (25) and how that force coexists with the idea of violence, and if without it that there wouldn’t be a state. “Today, however, we have to say that a state is a human community (successfully) claims the monopoly of the legitimate use of physical force within a given territory” (32-4). Weber also mentions that territory is another description of a state, being described in a physical force, as the one and only right of the use violence. “Hence, ‘politics’ for us means striving to share power or striving to influence the distribution of power, either among states or among groups within a state” (37-9). This quote explains politics as either in a leadership form in self-seeking power for there own prestige, or for the sake of others.