State Centralization: Gaining Freedom and Laws or Losing Governance? - Essay Sample

Introduction

State centralization makes people live under their freedom and laws. The governing body stands for its interest and friendship without minding the welfare of the citizens. For instance, Spartans held Thebes and Athens as a governing group and eventually destroyed them (Machiavelli). In a country or a city that lives under a Prince, the citizens fail to govern themselves. However, appointing new Prince can promote effective governorship, although some republics live in a state of hatred, and desire for revenge. Thus, the essay focuses on the impact of state centralization by European monarchy during 1450-1648 concerning Prince (Machiavelli) and other primary writings in Western civilization.

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In the state of centralization by the European Monarchs, the Prince describes different principalities that defended people against the attack. The chief foundations of all countries, whether new, old, or mixed, had to protect the welfare of the citizens. For instance, the Prince defended the arms such as mercenaries, or auxiliaries which sometimes acted dangerous (Zoller 80). Although if the Prince held his country based on these arms, the state would not become firm or safe due to lack of ambition, discipline, unity, faithfulness, and bravery. For instance, the King of France that is Charles seized Italy, making the Prince suffer consequences. The city was destroyed, making the Pope obtain earthly power and divide Italy into more states. The church comprised of republic and priest who were not soldiers although they recruited foreigners as mercenaries such as Alberigo da Conio in Romagna (Njenga). The church used tricks to take and liberate prisoners without asking for money.

However, the Prince criticized people who believe that fortunate and not God governs the universe. According to the Prince, "individuals with their knowledge and wisdom cannot achieve an effective leadership since the state can easily get destroyed due to the rise of unpleasant acts like violence, unfaithfulness, hatred and corruption" (Njenga). For instance, Pope Julius faced opposition during his campaign against Bologna because the King of Spain and Venetians did not support him until he consulted the King of France (Zoller 84). So, the King of France offered his support since he had observed the movement and wanted to create a friendship with the Pope to humble the people of Venetians.

Differences and Similarities between the Prince and Other Primary Writings in Western Civilization

The Prince and "Act of Supremacy" (Doc 11:13)

The act of supremacy declared Henry VII as the end of the church in England to replace Pope (Campbell). The law also reported that the king as the head of state as well as the church should enjoy all dignities, honors, privileges, preeminence, authorities, and jurisdictions. The official Act of Parliament separated the Church of Rome from that of England. So, the head of the church was given power and authority to restrain, correct, reform, and amend all kinds of offenses, abuses, and contempt. According to the Prince, some Protestants, especially Calvin, refused to recognize the church as the head of both state and religion due to the conflicts that affected the monarch's control (Campbell). However, both the act of supremacy and the Prince advocated for the need to trust God in leadership. For instance, the Prince criticized individuals who believe that the state is ruled by human effort and not God.

The Prince and "Putting the Poor to Work" (Doc 12:5)

In "putting the poor to work" (Doc 12:5), the increasing rate of poor people and the disorder associated with them, made Elizabethan declare the low-income earners' people laws in 1601. The bill was to define the local and central government responsibilities regarding the disadvantaged by reducing internal migration and establish their houses. The act allowed the church to participate in showing justice and hospitality to the poor as well as motivate them to work as there was no idleness. Accordingly, the Prince urges the church to show mercy to the oppressed by giving them relief food, clothing, housing, and shelter Perry). However, The Prince blames the leaders who do not take advice or inquire during leadership. Every leader needs a counselor and sticks to the opinions and decisions because leadership is a collective not individually.

The Prince and "Dissertation of the Alliance 1669" (Doc 12:7)

In "Dissertation of the Alliance," The country that involves in trading activity had to ensure free movement of goods from one region to another for consumption. The importation of the commodities from the neighboring nation was to be sold to the domestic market as a luxury or local items (Perry). The exportations of European products were crucial to promote the development of the Orient for the production process or domestic consumptions in Europe. In the Prince, most people in Europe engaged in subsistence agriculture, making the prices of the commodities to increase compared to wages a scenario which lowed living standard. Hence, both Prince and Dissertation of the alliance 1669 (Doc 12:7), indicated that agriculture was the commercial trade.

Conclusion

The Prince has played a significant role in state centralization by European monarchy during 1450-1648 in connection to other primary writings in Western civilization. The Prince describes different principalities that defended people against the attack. Prince criticizes people who believe that fortunate and not God governs the universe. Other primary writings in Western civilization such as "The act of supremacy" declared that the king as the head of state as well as the church should enjoy all dignities, honors, privileges, preeminence, authorities, and jurisdictions.

Works Cited

Campbell, Kenneth L. Western civilization: A global and comparative approach: Volume II: Since 1600. Routledge, 2015.

Machiavelli, N., & Thomson, N. H. (2018). Machiavelli: The Prince (Cambridge Texts in the History of Political Thought). CDED.

Njenga, George. "Development of monarchies and the process of political Integration." (2015). Petrina, Alessandra. Machiavelli in the British isles: Two early modern translations of the Prince. Routledge, 2016.

Perry, Marvin. Western civilization, a brief history. Cengage Learning, 2015.

Zoller, Gunter. "War Without and Peace Within. Fichte's Political Appropriation of Machiavelli and Its Contem-porary Context in Herder and Hegel." Rivista di filosofia. Vol.106, No.1, 2015, pp.77-98. https://doi.org/10.1413/79416