Machiavellianism

English

Machiavellianism (countable and uncountable, plural Machiavellianisms)

(philosophy, politics) The political philosophy of Machiavelli, especially the realist doctrine which emphasizes the maintenance of the state above ethical concerns.
Synonyms: realpolitik, Machiavellism, raison d'etat, realism
- 2010, W. Julian Korab-Karpowicz, Political Realism in International Relations:
  "Machiavellianism is a radical type of political realism that is applied to both domestic and international affairs."
- 2001, Tim Spiekerman, Shakespeare's Political Realism: The English History Plays, SUNY Press, →ISBN, page 54:
  Let us turn, finally, to the war itself, and ask ourselves if it can be understood as the victory of decency over Machiavellianism.
(countable) A political maneuver that exemplifies the philosophy. Unsavory government politics.
(personality psychology) A psychological construct centered on interpersonal manipulation, lack of empathy, cold affect, and indifference to morality.
- 2011, Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Sophie von Stumm, Adrian Furnham, The Wiley-Blackwell Handbook of Individual Differences, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:
  Machiavellianism refers to interpersonal strategies that advocate self-interest, deception, and manipulation, so it would seem inherently related to core psychopathy and narcissism.

philosophy

political maneuver

ruthless, duplicitous behavior