Machiavelli and the Internal Stability of the Republic: Historical Interpretation, Contemporary Critique

Abstract

The aim of this analysis is to present an interpretation of the republicanMachiavelli of the Discorsi with regard to the question ofthe internal maintenance of the republic, through three differentguidelines: first, the struggle against the internal enemies of therepublic; second, the sense of contingency and fragility in the domainof the political; and third, the needed constructive energy ofvirtù. In the second part, some attractive aspects of neo-Machiavellianrepublicanism are highlighted in connection with contemporarydebates on citizenship and political liberalism. The emphasisis put through the text on the necessity of having citizens equi-pped with the political abilities that are required to keep the politicalpower under control and ensure the good quality of the republic.