Die Machiavelli-Rezeption und -Interpretation im 19. Jahrhundert, besonders in Deutschland

Abstract

During the 19th century, there are some new interpretations of Machiavelli’s writings, namely a certain rehabilitation of the Principe, in various forms and degrees. The historicism tries to understand Machiavelli within the context of Renaissance culture. Others, like Hegel and Fichte, see that The Prince’s main object was to found a stable state, in order to avoid factions and civil wars. At the same time historians and others praise Machiavelli for having proclaimed the unification of Italy and its liberation from foreign troops. They therefore see in it a parallel to the 19th-century attempts to unite Italy (and Germany). In the famous book Dialogue aux enfers entre Machiavel et Montesquieu M. Joly cautions against a new absolutism and democratic dictatorship in France (Napoléon III) as well as in other countries. As one can see in Machiavelli-Interpretations in the 20th century, this situation repeated in the era of Fascism and Marxism. The continuing lesson by which Machiavelli is actual till today is the problem how politics and ethics can be mediated in modern times where it is not taken for granted that state or commonwealth have a foundation on religion and morals.