The Art of War (Neville trans.)

Hobbes rejects Machiavelli’s ideal of citizen militias and civic virtue as unrealistic and dangerous. He advocates for a centralized, professional military controlled by an absolute sovereign to prevent civil war.

A foundational modern critique of Machiavelli’s limited, classical military thinking. Clausewitz redefines war as a continuation of politics by other means and embraces the complex, unpredictable nature of modern warfare.

Although Harrington admired Machiavelli’s republicanism, he modified Machiavelli’s ideas by emphasizing balance through property distribution rather than purely martial virtue. His vision of a civic republic is more utopian and agrarian.

Rousseau critiques Machiavelli’s republicanism for being too bound to militarism and classical models. He emphasizes popular sovereignty and civic education rather than martial discipline as the foundation of a just republic.

For a complete picture of Machiavelli’s political philosophy, contrast The Art of War’s republican spirit with The Prince’s pragmatic realpolitik.

Machiavelli deeply admired the Roman Republic. Polybius’s analysis of Rome’s mixed constitution directly influenced Machiavelli’s vision of political and military order.

Offers a systematic comparison of republics, monarchies, and despotisms—building on Machiavelli’s legacy and emphasizing the role of military and civic structures.

Machiavelli’s idealized Rome appears throughout The Art of War. Livy’s original stories of Roman virtue and military discipline provide the foundational source.