Machiavellis Revivus: Slashing a Sword on the Western Classical Tradition
Author: Nevio Cristante
Date Of Publication: May 2011
Isbn13: 978-1-4438-2892-5
Isbn: 1-4438-2892-0
From an intensive academic study based primarily on Machiavelli’s works, critical arguments arise in this text that undermine not only the current-day political mind-set, framework, and practices, but also the views established academically, up to the point where the “body politic” formed by the Western classical tradition is dissipated and dispersed. Comprised in a contrary unconventional manner similar to Machiavelli, the basic essential factors of history, religion, power, and authority were formulated as the four main chapters in this work by Nevio Cristante. From it, one can readily see the flaws today in the false praise in nostalgic historical hubris, the forgetting of a brand of religion that is essential for healthy politics, the overlooking of coercive forces that reduce politics to power, and the loss of true authority. In this book, Cristante comprises Machiavelli as a virtuous, unprecedented, “extreme humanist,” in stark contrast to the common incessant interpretations of him being a “teacher of evil,” a “diabolical,” “soulless” political advisor. A subversive satirical interpretation of The Prince has been formed herein, extending from the generated knowledge of history and the history of Machiavelli’s own experience. From the vivacious and unraveling Italian Renaissance, a cogent force prompted Machiavelli to create his literary works in order to form an educational cure for the deteriorating human condition, of his time, and any time. There is in Machiavelli, a differing sense of newness from that which is commonly known today, which circumvents its worth in this distinct educative interpretation. Machiavelli goes back in time in order to produce lessons applicable to correct the shortages in his, and every, present-day. With a divergent view of the works of art and literature outlined in this analysis, Machiavelli’s education becomes revived today in creating a virtuous political, spiritual, and cultural dynamism as a battle-cry to repel the ignorance and great misfortunes in our human condition.

For the last six years, Dr Nevio Cristante has been an Assistant Professor at Hacettepe University, in Ankara, Turkey, in the departments of English Language and Literature, as well as the International Relations Department. He is an Italian-Canadian and now is associated with the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Human Sciences at Laurentian University, in Sudbury, Ontario, Canada, a place where he grew up, and his family and friends still live. He acquired his MA with distinction in the Political Science Department at Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and acquired his PhD at METU, the Middle East Technical University, in Ankara, Turkey. His area of expertise is in the history of political thought, or political philosophy. His work encompasses his transnational experiences with an interdisciplinary direction, which is enhanced through expansion upon historical studies, social issues within political science, psychological politics, literary studies, and religion. In collaboration with this direction, he is currently working on environmental affairs, native issues, transnational culture, terrorism, and global political history. All of these elements have had an effect on his original interpretation of Machiavelli in this book, Machiavellis Revivus: Slashing A Sword on the Western Classical Tradition. It is a work that will revolutionize and revive Machiavelli for the current day, under divergent insights that are contentious to common interpretations.

“In this book, Dr. Cristante argues that contemporary times that we are witnessing correspond to one of crisis and chaos. This crisis is largely due to the modern ‘faith’ in reason and the associated belief in the progress in history. However, the events of the 20th and the 21st centuries so far have shown the falsity of these modern assumptions. Thus, we witness the end of modernity. We are at the threshold of a new age the particulars of which are yet unknown. At this critical point, Dr. Cristante persuasively asserts that we can turn to Machiavelli to get inspiration to cope with uncertainties of this new era. Accordingly, Machiavelli lived and contemplated through a similar transitional period, namely, between the medieval and the modern times. As Dr. Cristante indicates, Machiavelli elaborated his views around four themes: history, religion, power and authority. Dr. Cristante powerfully argues that a careful examination of Machiavelli’s thought provides many insights as to the nature of the conflicts and their possible resolutions in our contemporary world as well. As one of the prominent founders of political science, Machiavelli is indispensable to understanding the recurring problems of humanity. Congratulations to Dr. Cristante for having produced such a thought-provoking and enlightening work.”

—Bican Şahin, Assoc. Prof. of Political Science at Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey, and the President of Association for Liberal Thinking, Turkey. He is the author of Toleration: The Liberal Virtue (Lexington Books, 2010).

“Being his colleague and friend for a number of years, I must state with confidence that Professor Cristante has displayed academic success in a wide range of academic fields, combining politics, history, literature, and philosophy together in making a productive educational direction. He also has creatively assimilated the experiences of living through various cultural, political, and religious spectrums. Having been present in many of his presentations at various conferences, I can state, with admiration, that his remarkable argumentations, his command of the intricacies of various critical theories he uses, and his eloquence, have always impressed the academic community. His presentation, for example, in Turkey's first international conference on Ecocriticism that I have organized with three other colleagues in 2009 (‘The Future of Ecocriticism: New Horizons’) was highly appreciated and sparked off lively debates. He uses these diverse experiences to educate fruitfully on the nature of the human condition for the present-day. Professor Cristante has attributed these merits onto his interpretation of Machiavelli, one that is unique and original, invoking a new and relevant understanding of Machiavelli by clarifying a lot of confusion for his proper reading.”

—Prof. Dr. Serpil Oppermann, English Language and Literature, Dept,, Faculty of Letters, Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey.

“In this book, Prof. Cristante provides a convincing interpretation of Machiavelli. Re-visiting the primary texts, Cristante questions the validity of many commonplace readings. From the first chapter on ‘History’, with its intricate understanding of the cyclical and exemplary, readers will see the instrumental value Machiavelli's works have for the present day historian. Subsequent chapters on ‘Religion’ and ‘Power’ present persuasive re-considerations of Machiavelli's thoughts on secular life, religious faith and their connection to the sanctity of the natural world. Moreover, Cristante's chapter on ‘Authority’ discloses a crucial element in Machiavelli's political theory that is too often neglected by readings—especially of the famous and/or infamous text, Il Principe -- which reduce all the nuances of this work to the workings of power politics. Prof. Cristante provides a true revival of the significance of Machiavelli's work for the present day.”

—Prof. Herminio Teixiera, Political Science Department, Nipissing University, North Bay Ontario,Canada

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