Machiavelli’s Moderate Machiavellism

Machiavelli has been conventionally understood as the proponent of extreme Machiavellism. He has been easily demonized as the advocate of tyranny pursuing private interests and power regardless of means and methods and of being unconditionally committed to evil, as well as a thinker who has completely disregarded morality and excluded this virtue from the realm of politics. By drawing upon a careful reading of his original writings, however, this article seeks to portray Machiavelli as a proponent of moderate Machiavellism rather than of the extreme variety.

Machiavelli’s Moderate Machiavellism

Machiavelli has been conventionally understood as the proponent of extreme Machiavellism. He has been easily demonized as the advocate of tyranny pursuing private interests and power regardless of means and methods and of being unconditionally committed to evil, as well as a thinker who has completely disregarded morality and excluded this virtue from the realm of politics. By drawing upon a careful reading of his original writings, however, this article seeks to portray Machiavelli as a proponent of moderate Machiavellism rather than of the extreme variety.

權力平衡機制的修正失靈與啟動失靈：戰國時代的案例檢證

國際關係的權力平衡機制，本身充滿概念定義模糊與高度的理論化缺陷。國際社會的霸權起伏，彰顯權力平衡機制失靈（failure of balance of power mechanism）的獨特現象，霸權更迭的論點，更構成權力平衡機制重複失靈的理論挑戰。本文首先回顧國際關係研究對權力平衡理論的質疑，擬超越美歐國際關係理論的思維窠臼，重新認識權力平衡機制的運作動因與面貌。其次省察東亞戰國時期合縱連橫實踐，以及出現一統帝國的客觀事實，探索權力平衡機制失靈的現象。本文結論以為，國際體系存在權力平衡機制啟動失靈與權力平衡機制修正失靈；探究權力平衡失靈，可以提升吾人對於目前國際體系權力轉換的理解與認識。

Ignition Failure and the Adjustment Failure of the Balance of Power Mechanism: Case Study of the Warring States Era Practices

The concept of the Balance of Power theory in the international relations paradigms is full of theoretical defaults in terms of the concept's definition. The hegemonic transition in the international community exhibits the phenomenon of the failure of the Balance of Power mechanism. The power shifting arguments also constitute theoretical challenges of continuous failure to the Balance of Power mechanism.

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