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Machiavelli heard in debate hall
The presidential candidates’ performances on human rights issues in the first debate round on Jan. 17 smacked of Machiavellianism.
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Presidential candidates Joko Widodo-Ma'ruf Amin, General Elections Commission (KPU) chairman Arief Budiman (center) and presidential candidates Prabowo Subianto-Sandiaga Uno are on stage during the first candidate debate on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2019. (JP/Dhoni Setiawan)
T
he presidential candidates’ performances on human rights issues in the first debate round on Jan. 17 smacked of Machiavellianism.
The phenomenal The Prince, which Machiavelli wrote in 1513, heralded a new way of understanding politics as the art of governing. His objective was to instruct rulers on attaining and maintaining power by following opportunistic, utilitarian principles. These principles may have been proven effective, but are morally reprehensible because they ignore human nature and human rights.
Three Machiavellian principles were apparent in the remarks of the two candidate pairs: the incumbent Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Ma’ruf Amin, and Prabowo Subianto and Sandiaga Uno.
First, both pairs underlined the importance of a strong state that is upheld by the rule of law and a strong military.
