Machiavelli and Political Conspiracies: The Struggle for Power in the Italian Renaissance (Routledge Studies in Renaissance and Early Modern Worlds of Knowledge)

The theme of conspiracy is central to Machiavelli's writing. His work offers observations and analysis of conspiracy as part of the armoury of the Renaissance politician. Surprisingly, the theme has not yet received the attention it merits. This volume corrects an interpretation which reduces Machiavelli's position to one of censorious observer of conspiracies. Quite to the contrary, as Campi demonstrates, Machiavelli developed an anatomy of conspiracy and provided a practical manual for coup d'état" and violent seizure of power. "The theme of conspiracies plays a key role in Machiavelli's writings, in which can be found considerations and analyses on the use of conspiracy as an instrument of conquest of power, and as a technique for political fighting. This volume denies an interpretation in which Machiavelli limited himself to warning against conspiracies, judging them as a dangerous and useless tool. In reality, he elaborated a real phenomenology or anatomy of the conspiracy. His thoughts on this theme represent a practical manual for the "coup d'état" and the violent seizure of power. But as always, they also contain brilliant intuitions on political psychology, the sociology of power, and social anthropology"-- Provided by publisher The theme of conspiracy is central to Machiavelli's writing. His work offers observations and analysis of conspiracy as part of the armoury of the Renaissance politician. Surprisingly, the theme has not yet received the attention it merits. This volume corrects an interpretation which reduces Machiavelli's position to one of censorious observer of conspiracies. Quite to the contrary, as Campi demonstrates, Machiavelli developed an anatomy of conspiracy and provided a practical manual for coup d'etat" and violent seizure of power. From the same author: Niccolò Machiavelli: Sulle congiure, Collana: Le bighe 2014, pp 344, Rubbettino Editore, ISBN09788849839265 Cover Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgments Part I Machiavelli and Political Conspiracies Introduction: Machiavelli, Theorist of Conspiracies 1 Luctus Publicus/Salus Publica: Bloodbath in Florence 2 From Magione to Senigallia: False Conspiracy, Double Conspiracy 3 Machiavelli the Conspirator? 4 Phenomenology and Anatomy of Conspiracy Part II On Conspiracies Note on the Texts On Conspiracies Description of the Methods Adopted by the Duke Valentino When Murdering Vitellozzo Vitelli, Oliverotto da Fermo, the Signor Pagolo and the Duke di Gravina Orsini The Pazzi and the Conspiracy Against the Medici Bibliography Index This volume is divided into two parts. The first consists of a long introductory essay which summarizes and critically analyzes the Machiavellian interpretation of conspiracies. The second part is represented by an anthology of writings by Machiavelli, and includes the three most important texts in which he touches on the theme.