George W.Bush should take lessons from Machiavelli on how to govern.

This book recasts Machiavelli's basic principles of leadership and assesses contemporary giants of statecraft, commerce, military affairs, and sports.

Resident Scholar Michael A. Ledeen delivered the ninth of AEI's 1996-1997 Bradley Lectures on May 12, 1997.

A Bradley Lecture onthe continuing relevance of the study of Machiavelli to modern politcs.

“Rational control” is the subjection of society to reason as opposed to superstition, prejudice, or tradition, with the aim of getting us to behave better. Alexis de Tocqueville says this idea or practice began with the French monarchy; a more recent example is Nudge: Improving Decisions about Health, Wealth, and...

President Obama entered the White House determined to renew diplomacy with Iran. During his campaign, he said he would meet the leaders of Iran "without preconditions.”

The argument is being made in some quarters that, however unsuccessful Barack Obama's domestic policies have been, his record in foreign policy has been successful. But when you examine the claims of success, they seem a bit peculiar.

Machiavelli's basic rules for leaders remain the standard against which all top dogs must be measured.