Machiavellianism in the Balance of Arab Political Thought

Abstract

This study addresses the concept of Machiavellianism as a political theory that has provoked continuous debate since the sixteenth century. It focuses on the core ideas articulated by Niccolò Machiavelli in his seminal treatise "The Prince", and examines their presence, reception, or rejection within Arabic political thought across historical eras. The study investigates how Arab thinkers engaged with Machiavellian principles, specifically concerning the dialectic between morality and politics, the utility of power, and pragmatism. Furthermore, it explores the perspectives of contemporary Arab political thought regarding political realism. Methodologically, the study employs an analytical and comparative philosophical approach. The findings indicate that while traditional and modern Arab thought largely rejects the normative separation between ethics and governance, contemporary thinkers selectively engage with political realism as an analytical tool to decipher power dynamics, without adopting its underlying moral neutrality. Consequently, Machiavellianism in Arab discourse serves primarily as a critical reference point for assessing authoritarianism rather than a normative political framework.