Order, Conflict and Civil Principate. A Dialogue with Gabriele Pedullà about Machiavel’s “Grey Politics”

Abstract

This paper sets up a dialogue with the reading of Machiavelli’s Prince recently proposed by Gabriele Pedullà, professor at the University Roma 3, where the theory of the princedom decidedly distances itself from the classical tradition of specula principum, aiming at focusing an analysis of the dependency that the ruler often suffers. First, I claim to expose the plural opinion that representative phenomena of social conflict and discontent as popular riots deserve for Machiavelli, as they may attempt to attain the common good or ground the interests of a faction. Second, I will display the main theses of commentary that Pedullà dedicated to The Prince, paying special attention to the requirement of consolidating political power by a popular militia and of urging the prince not to rely on any external agent. Conscious of fleeing from political dependence, the ruler should be also able to control the emotional links of those around him, maintaining them in clear dependence from him. Thus, Machiavel sketches an organical vision of articulation of power, which popular implementation is based not only in awe, but rather in an awe mixed with admiration and the feeling of debt. The communication between the civil parts is a key point for keeping the power according to Machiavel, who views conflict and dissent as a drive leading to beneficial transformations of political forms.