A Discourse on Machiavelli’s New Rome

Abstract

In the first part of the paper the author presents the key theses of Vickie Sullivan’s‎reading of Machiavelli. Sullivan argues that, in order to prevent corruption,‎Machiavelli innovatively reworks elements of Christian teaching‎for entirely temporal purposes and offers a specific, modern solution, ‘new‎Rome’, in the form of an irreligious, fearful republic which early and effectively‎punishes the ambitious few seeking to establish tyranny. In the internal‎realm of the city, the Florentine reduces class desires of the plebs and the‎greats under the common goal of acquisition. A bellicose, tumultuous republic‎satisfies the desires of all the social actors, resulting in a lasting political order.‎In the second part the author critically engages with Sullivan’s interpretation,‎drawing on Claude Lefort’s interpretation of Machiavelli. Surprisingly,‎Lefort’s groundbreaking work on Machiavelli has been absent in Straussian‎readings of the Florentine. By highlighting the authentically democratic nature‎of Machiavelli’s project, in contrast with Sullivan’s reading, an entirely‎different ‘new Rome’ arises on the horizon.