Abstract

The essay proposes a new reading of Machiavelli's 'Prince', ch. IX, in light of the notion of 'forcing' introduced in ch. VI, when machiavelli discusses the distinction between 'armed' and 'unarmed prophets'. As a result of this new reading the 'civic principality' is a structurally unstable entity, suspended between the struggle among 'moods' and the seizure of 'absolute' power that the 'civic prince' should aim at; and suspended between popular favour to be conquered in order to give stability to the principality, and the availability of personal arms that 'force' the people to 'believe'.