Two classic works of political philosophy, Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince and Discourses on Livy provide rulers with a how-to guide for governing. Jon Lee Anderson’s provocative introduction explores the lasting effects of Macchiavelli’s controversial politics of governance in the tumultuous twenty-first century geopolitical landscape.

Widely held as one of the first works of modern political philosophy, The Prince is a practical guide for ruling (or a satirical guide on how not to rule). Machiavelli prefaces each chapter with a brief letter addressed to Lorenzo de’ Medici, the ruler of Florence, to whom he also dedicates the book, both admonishing and praising him for his governance. In simple prose and straightforward logic, Machiavelli takes on topics of power, politics, and war that continue to bear contemporary pertinence.

The Prince offers moderns readers a first-hand look at the causes and ramifications of poor governing in sixteenth century Italy, which are still applicable over five centuries later. Machiavelli’s extreme views on the separation of politics and ethics in governance has frightening parallels to a disconcerting trend in current global politics.