Much has been written on the contradictory interpretations of Machiavelli's political opinions. This book guides the reader through the maze of interpretations, arguing that the ambiguities of Machiavelli's work contribute to these contradictions. In addition to analyzing the intellectual and social roots of Machiavellian thought and presenting it in a biographical and cultural context, Femia demonstrates the relevance of Machiavelli for the modern worker and his impact on 20th-century thought for both classical and Marxist thinkers. Machiavelli is seen as the true father of modern political science and the first political thinker to separate analytical and normative modes of inquiry.
Author Biography: Joseph Femia is lecturer in the department of politics at Liverpool University. He is also the author of
The Machiavellian Legacy
and
Marxism and Democracy
.