Obama: A True Prince

This past December, President Barrack Obama delivered a speech addressing the entire world at the U.S Military Academy at West Point, in New York. The main issue discussed? The war in Afghanistan. In his speech Obama announced his plans to withdraw from Iraq, and to deploy an additional 30 000 troops to Afghanistan and Pakistan. Obama uses his natural charisma to communicate such a controversial issue with least amount of harm possible. He demonstrates his knowledge of the world's history and the current situation, and informs the public that he has weighed every option carefully. He shows emotion as he sympathizes for the many devastating loses, yet assertiveness when announcing that his decision is the best option when regarding the well being of the entire nation.

Upon studying and thoroughly analyzing Niccolo Machiavelli's The Prince, I could not help but recognize the similarities in technique between the two. The comparison begins with Obama's technique to separate himself with the old regime. Prior to his presidency, it is no secret that Americans were fed up with Bush's administration. Obama noted this and found a mean to use it to his advantage. This translated to the entire basis of Obama's campaign, with his clever slogan "Change, we can believe in"and, "Yes we can." Separating himself from the prior administration was undeniably Obama's best campaign movement, a technique Machiavelli stated in The Prince. According to Machiavelli, there are two ways to gain power. One being by force and ultimate fear, and the other is by creating a clearly defined ‘new regime’, which will ensure that the people respect the new leader and prefer him to his predecessors. This explains Obama's lack of hesitation to criticize Bush's administration and vocalize his differences from the previous president.

The similarities between the two do not stop there. By sending over 30 000 troops, Obama practices the following Machiavellian belief, " A prince never lacks legitimate reasons to break his promise. " Obama justifies breaking his promise by explaining that he must fix the problem the previous administration started. He shows sympathy and emotion (as a means to earn love, another Machiavellian technique), and persuades the public that there are no other options. In addition, as a means to gain love and support from his people, President Barrack Obama shares that he has read letters and visited burrial grounds of many lost soldiers and their families. Obama strives for the public to love him. Again, this can be compared to Machiavelli's words, "A prince should therefore be very careful that nothing escapes his lips which is no replete with the fine qualities...so that to see and head him one would think him the embodiment of mercy, good faith, integrity, humanity, and religion." No matter his decision, the way in which he presents it to the public must earn him the qualities Machiavelli listed above. Reputation is a very important aspect to a well respected and successful prince, a guideline Obama works really hard to maintain. Yet, this tactic of his was a lot easier during his campaign, than during his presidency. With presidency, comes tough decisions, decisions that must be made in the eyes of the public. The troubling aspect is that the public shares many different beliefs, and therefore as president it is essential to find a way to unify all.

Thus, spurs another Machiavellian belief, "Since love and fear can hardly exist together, if we must choose between them, it is far safer to be feared than loved."Since Obama's decision will split the nation in two, and therefore hinder national support, the president has no other options but to instill fear within the public. By Obama explaining the extreme regimes out East, and reminding the public of several terrorist attacks, such as in England and on 9/11, the public is reminded that there is evil abroad, and therefore military involvement is necessary.


Upon following Obama's journey since the beginning of his presidency, it is undeniable that there lay many similarities between himself and the works of Niccolo Machiavelli. Whether the public bought his speech or not, President Barack Obama has proven to be quite the Machiavellian Prince.