"Anti-Machiavell" first translation in Korea…the practical part of "The Prince" [.txt]

Niccolò Machiavelli, a 16th-century Italian political philosopher from Florence, is known for his book "The Prince," which is considered both a manual of political power and a theory of realpolitik. Many subsequent leaders can be seen as his descendants or students. The most notable example is Frederick II, who brought Prussia, a backward country on the European periphery, into the ranks of great powers 200 years later.

Frederick II's "Anti-Machiavelli" was written to oppose Machiavelli's ideas about the prince, but it turned out to be a practical guide to the "warfare section" of Machiavelli's work. In "Anti-Machiavelli," the author argues for good governance and meticulously summarizes Machiavelli's arguments, countering them with solid historical and classical references.

While Machiavelli focused on power acquisition and maintenance, Anti-Machiavelli demonstrates how rulers have actually applied Machiavellian principles in history. The famous Machiavellian quote that a ruler should be feared more than loved is countered in Anti-Machiavelli with the idea that if a king's sole policy goal is to maintain the fear of his subjects, he will ultimately become a tyrant ruling over cowards and slaves.

Machiavelli meticulously dissected the nature of power but did not justify the negative consequences that come with its acquisition and maintenance; this is where Frederick II sought to overcome these issues. The book covers the introduction of Machiavelli and Machiavellianism, Frederick II's rise, and the process that led to the writing of Anti-Machiavelli.

It also includes Frederick II's territorial expansion wars, providing a comprehensive overview of Machiavellianism and its impact on modern times.