The Counter-Reformation Prince: Anti-Machiavellianism or Catholic Statecraft in Early Modern Europe

by Robert Bireley S.J.

Bireley explores the anti-Machavellian tradition of sixteenth- and seventeenth-century Europe and the writers who cultivated it, including Giovanni Botero and Justus Lipsius. The tradition produced an international political literature that is immensely important for understanding the Counter-Reformation, Baroque culture, and early modern politics and diplomacy.

Originally published in 1990.

A UNC Press Enduring Edition -- UNC Press Enduring Editions use the latest in digital technology to make available again books from our distinguished backlist that were previously out of print. These editions are published unaltered from the original, and are presented in affordable paperback formats, bringing readers both historical and cultural value.

Genres: History, European History

324 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1990

Reviews

[Patrick]

This turned out to be a pretty good book on responding to the claims of Machiavelli from a Christian point of view. So much so, that I think those with a non-Christian view could also benefit from it. The long middle part of the book was basically rather dull, and I had hoped it would be more engaged with Machiavelli than it was. Bireley surveys and summarizes the views, as evidenced in their works, of the anti-Machiavellians. (Six authors). Most of these are based on the views of Machiavelli on questions he raises such as the religiosity of leaders, the military, and whether a leader can afford to lie or break his promises. So, Machiavelli is part of the discussion all along, but the reader is left to make the connections on her own. The last chapter of the book, however, pulls things together and relates them to Machiavelli fairly well.

Recently I read The Good of Politics: A Biblical, Historical, and Contemporary Introduction by James W. Skillen hoping it would point me to how and why Christians could engage in politics. I was very much disappointed by that book. Maybe it’s just a better way to approach the question, to approach it historically. Machiavelli is a concrete case of political thought and the anti-Machiavellians are a concrete response to him. Some Protestants might have objections to the Catholic focus here, but the anti-Machiavellians were primarily Catholic. That’s just history.

[Jessica Zu]

totally love this book. Though I don't know much about the contentions around 'counter-reformation' and 'anti-Machiavellianism', I'm pretty sure some of the negative reviews of this book is not that even-handed.