摘要
NiccolòMachiavelli is famously known and interpreted in political science for his realism.His recommendations for The Prince are stated in various forms,particularly in terms of the role of violence in politics.However,his intentions are much more restrictive and prudent than it seems at the first sight.Violence is a necessity in political life,but it needs to be properly justified,otherwise it does not benefit either the ruler or the ruled.He endorses violence but conditions it by prudence and lack of cruelty.Excessive cruelty leads to hatred and citizens’hatred would lead to limitations of power of the ruler/prince.“The prince must aim to be feared without being hated”.On this basis,I will present a case study of the use of violence by Russian President Vladimir Putin in his considered“spheres of influence”,particularly in the territory of Georgia in 2008 and analyse through Machiavelli lens,whether the use of violence can be considered to be justified as Machiavelli writes,“yet it cannot be called virt to kill fellow citizens,to betray friends,to be treacherous,pitiless,irreligious.These ways can win a prince power but not glory”.
