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FindArticles > American Political Science Review > December, 1993 > Article > Print friendly

Addressing the political exception: Machiavelli's "accidents" and the mixed regime. (Niccolo Machiavelli)

McCormick, John P.

Niccolo Machiavelli did not consider autocracy or absolute governance as the sole solution to problems arising from the variability and unpredictability of the political realm. According to him, unintended consequences of a political decision and natural occurrences beyond a leader's power to control can be managed effectively if leaders know when to act and what to do when such circumstances arise. His work, 'Discorsi' discussed how leaders can avoid dangerous situations and take control of certain occurrences but it did not necessarily imply the use of absolute power.

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