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The ‘gentrification’ of Niccolò Machiavelli

There is an ongoing debate on the nature and relevance of the political work of Niccolò Machiavelli. This debate has always been deeply influenced by the ideological spirit of the time. In our time Machiavelli is reinterpreted again. His ideas seem to be being cleaned up, sanitized from the unpleasant and objectionable aspects that for a long time were considered almost proverbial. In current historiography Machiavelli is widely seen as a precursor of republican, even democratic governance. On the basis of a review of prominent recent studies into his life and work, this literature essay concludes that the gentrification of Machiavelli is in full swing.