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educationJun 10, 202637:55pending

Returning to First Principles: America's Machiavellian Moment?

About this episode

Niccolo Machiavelli, is usually cast as something of a villain for supposedly promoting cut-throat politics. Regarded as the father of modern political theory and science, however, among his many ideas was that when regimes - governments - slip into a state of decline, a return to first principles was necessary to save them. Turning back to the ideas that were most pure at a founding was, he believed, essential to revive a country that had lost its way.

Is America at such a point today? Political theorist, commentator, and author Jay Cost believes we are, and discusses what a “Machiavellian Moment” is, and why America, especially as we approach our 250th birthday, is in need of one.

Read his article: https://tinyurl.com/3ytfx3fb

Host: Jeff Sikkenga

Executive Producer: Jeremy Gypton

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Homepage: https://ashbrook.org/the-american-idea-podcast/

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Returning to First Principles: America's Machiavellian Moment?

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