Thursday, April 28, 2011

Canadian Foreign Policy Commitment to the DRC or Libya?

     In every country around the world, whether it is a city, town, or village; problems occur at one time or another amongst people. These issues result in corruption of a nation, rape, murder, forced labor, torture and many other forms of negative abuse to a human being. Some huge conflicts which had happened in the world for example would be World War One, World War Two, the September 11th attacks, the recent Egyptian revolution, Libya's political crisis and the Afghanistan War just to name a few. These conflicts and wars have been heard in the media constantly whether it was through the radio, internet, television or even cell phones and have been helped by over dozens of countries throughout the world in order to solve the problems.

However, there are many international conflicts which are happening right now since decades with people living in insecurity and the fear of death every single day. To name a couple of unheard international conflicts which are about thousands and thousands of people living in fear everyday due to their governments would be the disputed region of Kashmir between India and Pakistan, as well as the My Lai massacre which took place in Southern Vietnam killing hundreds of civilians. Well, why does the media not display the atrocities that had happened or is currently still taking place in these countries and why do people not know about these international conflicts which are also very important.

Anyhow, the Democratic Republic of Congo is also another conflict which is taking place currently in Africa with thousands of civilians being killed or raped due to rebel forces and unfortunately - Congo's own army. This conflict has been taking place for decades, however it is not mentioned about so much in the news so much that people around the world would be updated about. On the other hand, Libya has been all over the news on an international level receiving aid internationally from many countries. The violence in Libya is increasing each day ever since Tunisia's and Egypt's revolution against Ben Ali and Egypt's Ex-President Hosni Mubarak. The people of Libya are being treated inequal both socially and economically by Gadhafi and his government. Gadhafi's rebel forces and his supporters are making life for the Libyans very insecure.

Canada - a peacekeeping nation around the world, maintaining well foreign relations with almost all nations worldwide. Canada steps in at every issue trying to help the people of that nation live in peace and equality. However, a country cannot solve all problems together, so if Canada could only adequately resource one foreign policy choice, which conflict should receive the majority of Canada's foreign policy commitment - the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) or Libya; and should this foreign policy choice be governed by a realist, constructivist, or liberal perspective? In my opinion, I believe the DRC shoud receive the majority of Canada's foreign policy commitment and should be governed by a liberal perspective.

       "The Democratic Republic of Congo is located in central Africa and is the third-largest country on the African continent. It’s bordered by the Republic of Congo, the Central African Republic, the Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Zambia and Angola."

  The conflict in the DRC began twelve years ago during the genocide in Rwanda that killed approximately 800,000 Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The remaining Tutsis and Hutus ended with waves of refugees and genocidaires, fleeing into the Eastern part of Congo in 1994. During the 1994 genocide, President Habyarimana was a Hutu and had been shot while in the place, it was after his assassination that had caused problems between the two groups - the Hutus and Tutsis. After the horrendous 1994 Rwandan Genocide, Uganda and Rwanda took control most of Congo. Militia groups and tribal gangs fought for the nations mineral wealth pretending as if they were protecting the Congolese. As a result of Congo's ongoing conflict, the people have painfully suffered and continue to suffer for decades now.

Displacement, murder, rape, torture, fear and other violence are what the people of Congo fear from and go through each day of their lives. Diseases such as malnutrition and malaria are widespread throughout the country, since the population lacks food, shelter and simple health care. An estimated 3.8 million people have died since the civil war in the DRC in 1998. Majority of deaths are encountered mainly because of diseases such as malaria, measles and malnutrition - not necessarily violence. However, violence continues to occur in the North Kivu province and in parts of the Katanga province. The United Nations Peacekeeping Force had tried many times for reconciliation in Congo, but unfortunately several armed groups still have their eye on populations and regional governments fuel the conflict. As a result, parts of Congo, mostly the North-East, are rendered inaccessible to aid workers.

According to World Bank and World Development Indicators, the average life expectancy in Canada is at 81.2 years based on a 2009 statistic, whereas in Congo the life expectancy is only at 54 years. There is a huge difference in these numbers, in Congo the life expectancy rate is relatively low due to the lack of basic health care, mental health issues, and of course, the rape and killings of thousands of men and women. People living with HIV/Aids is 1.1 million and the number of physicians is only seven doctors per one hundred thousand people. According to UNICEF reports, a child dies in the DRC almost every two minutes, mostly from preventable causes; and also there are about 30,000 children who have been forced into militias, while untold thousands of girls have been raped.

 "The Democratic Republic of Congo is the rape capital of the world"

A senior UN official states. According to the United Nations, more than 8,000 women have been raped during the fighting in 2009. In Congo, women have no rights and continue to suffer from sexual violence, and in an article named "The Bleak Calculus of Congo's War Without End" by the Globe and Mail, it states that most of the worst atrocities done to women were commited by Congo's own army. A report by the Harvard Humanitarian Initiative showed that 60 percent of rape victims in the province of South Kivu were gang raped by armed men and more than half of the assaults took place in the victims' homes. "Women have no rights, if those who violate their rights go unpunished" stated Ms. Wallstrom of the UN Security Council. Even until today, Congo remains a nation which is torn apart by foreign looters with violence and insecurity throughout the nation.

       The conflict in Libya has been going on in for decades now in the North African state of Libya. This conflict is being fought between the people of Libya who want Muammar Gadhafi to leave government; not being in control of the nation and pro-Gadhafi forces. The 2011 conflict had begun on February 11th, 2011 as soon as the revolutions took place in Tunisia and Egypt, with both Hosni Mubarak and Ben Ali who left power. According to many around the world, Libyans who wanted Gadhafi to leave out of power believed they would win because Egypt and Tunisia had succeeded in their battle; however as of today Gadhafi still remains in control of Libya.

Colonel Muammar Gadhafi had seized power in Libya on September 1st, 1969 after he won the elections. Gadhafi attended military academy in Libya, Greece and the UK. He had wrote a book called "The Green Book" in 1975 in which he proves himself a leading political philosopher, deveoping a theory called the "third universal theory" outlined in his well-known Green Book.

Anyhow, the situation in Libya had began when a series of non-violent protest began on February 15th 2011. Not even a week had passed when the protests had started, and it was all over the media around the world. The uprising conflict spread across Libya, leaving Gadhafi struggling to retain control over his people and nation. According to a CBC article online, it is written that Gadhafi has "vowed to fight to the death". In response to the protests taking place in Libya, Gadhafi responded with military force as well as censorship and blocking of all communications. By the means of blocking communications, there was no way of communicating via Facebook, Twitter and cell phones. Facebook and Twitter especially, are two very popular social communication sites in which may arise more protests and violence throughout the country, therefore all sources of communication was blocked.

The conflict in Libya had than arose into an armed conflict, with the rebels establishing a coalition named the "Transitional National Council based in the North Eastern part of Libya - Benghazi. Muammar Gadhafi and members of his government were warned by the International Criminal Court (ICC) that they may have committed crimes against humanity; also the United Nations Security Concil passed an initial resolution freezing Gadhafi and his ten member's in his inner circle assets as well as restricting their travel. The resolution had also referred the actions of the government to  the ICC for investigation. Furthermore, the United Nations resolution authorized member states to establish and enforce a no-fly zone over Libya due to the violent conflicts. Right away, Gadhafi's government announced a ceasefire, however failed to uphold it.

"I am an international leader, the dean of the Arab rulers, the king of kings of Africa and the imam of Muslims, and my international status does not allow me to descend to a lower level" - says Muammar Gadhafi at the Arab League summit, March 2009.

People in Libya are living in fear as Gadhafi's forces may do harm to them. Economic prices such as food have risen very high, medical supplies and fuel are very limited in Libya. Libya's capital - Tripoli has violence happening everyday with the death toll rising daily.  As many as 4000 people are fleeing from the violence in Tripoli by crossing the Libya-Tunisia border everyday. It is estimated by the United Nations that 200,000 Libyan refugees fled either to Tunisia or Egypt. At Ras Ejder, a provisional refugee camp was set up with a capacity of 10,000 however this number tripled from 20,000 to 30,000 refugees. The World Health Organization describes this as a "nightmare" warning of the risks of serious epidemics. The International Criminal Court estimates that over 10,000 people in Libya have been killed due to the rising conflicts regarding Gadhafi and his rebels. Presently, the conflict in  Libya is still taking place and Gadhafi is still in power of Libya.

      As we all know the Democratic Republic of Congo is the main supplier of coltan, which is the key material in the manufacture of mobile telephones and has wealth in minerals such as diamonds, gold and copper which is supplied throughout the world as well, however the bordering nations of Congo have continuing violent conflicts with one another even until today. Over thousands of women and children have been raped and used as pawns during the 1994 Rwandan genocide, the 1998 war and also today in the Democratic Republic of Congo by the rebels as well as the DRC's own army in pretense of protection. Millions of civilians live their daily lives in fear from death and torture due to the DRC's situation across the nation.

The United Nations (UN) and the International Court of Justice (ICCJ) have not done too much in order to prevent the current situation. No country had intervened in Congo in order to help, however the United Nations Security Council had stepped in bringing 20,000 peacekeepers to help the situation, but unfortunately people are still dying and violence is still occurring dramatically.

On the other hand, throughout and currently the violence and protests Libya is going through regarding the government, there has been foreign intervention immediately while the protests began, the UN came in action, media around the world had been spreading the news every second, and the Foreign Affairs from a variety of nations had sent airplanes for their citizens in Libya to arrive back to their country safely and sound; whereas in the DRC, millions of people are in desperate need of aid but are not heard by from many as the people in Libya are. Canada has been helping Libya by sending millions of dollars, as well as bringing back their citizens via air planes by the Foreign Affairs Canada. Libya is very rich in oil as it has billions worth of oil in its reserves, which is why it is important for Canada to keep good relations with Libya as it benefits Canada's foreign policy.

In summary, it is extremely necessary for the DRC to receive the majority of Canadian foreign policy commitment as the nation is not heard from very well internationally, and people are helpless suffering from life and death each day of their lives with social, economical, fear, health issues and much more which is affecting the people of the nation very negatively. Now, if the DRC was to be governed by a new government, should the majority of the foreign policy commitment be governed by a realist, constructivist or liberal point of view? In the situation regarding the DRC, it is well for the nation to be governed by a liberal perspective.

"Liberalism is an economic and political doctrine advocating free enterprise, free competition and free will."

 Well liberalism is a political theory which believes on the natural goodness of humans and the freedom of an individual, favouring civil and political  liberties, governed by law with the consent of the government and protection from arbitrary authority. The DRC is a foreign conflict and for other countries to enter the DRC (such as Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi, etc) should be governed by a liberal perspective because everyone should have their rights to security and freedom, which relates to the governed style of liberalism. Liberalism believes in human rights and care for their social, economical and health issues; the people in Congo are facing massive issues with their human rights which is why it is important for the DRC to be governed from a liberal perspective.

Constructivism is a theory that argues that people generate knowledge and understanding from their experiences and ideas; but this is not a relevant theory for both the situations in Libya and the DRC because people are only experiencing violence and protests, they have corrupt forms of government which is why to govern these two nations from a constructivist perspective would not be ideal. The theory of realism is dominantly used internationally, and it is a theory that believes that there is no real or "high" authority to be guided by.

 A realist views and represents things as they really seem. In contrast with the two theories mentioned above, realism is similar to the idea of idealism; being somewhat similar to liberalism. But regarding the issues in the DRC, liberalism is the form of government which would shape the nation in many dimensions.
      
     

Monday, March 28, 2011

Michael Ignatieff's beliefs: Agree or disagree?

     Michael Ignatieff is one of the most discussed figures in Canadian politics. Ignatieff's supporters "praise him as a creative thinker who has the big ideas necessary to revitalize federal politics and the country's international standing." (pg. 971) He is currently the leader of the Official Opposition in Canada and leader of the Liberal Party of Canada and is running for the Federal Elections which will be happening on May 2, 2011.
     Ignatieff is a liberal interventionist, which is "a member of that small group of thinkers who support military action on the basis of left-leaning ideas, particularly the global defence of democracy and human rights." (pg. 971) However, in Canadian politics, the liberal interventionists are a minority.

    Firstly it is important to know Ignatieff's "sometimes-unspoken" assumptions before understanding his world view. They are best summarized as "cosmopolitanism, the universality of democracy and human rights, pragmatism, and a willingness to use force in defence of these ideals." (pg. 972) Ignatieff's basis on his thoughts and beliefs are based on cosmopolitanism - "a way of thinking about ethics and responsibility." (pg. 972) People who follow cosmopolitanism "refuse to distinguish between fellow citizens and total strangers." (pg. 972) Ignatieff strongly believes that it is important to help others in need, whether the help is big or small, it does not matter as long as the person in need of help was helped by someone. Ignatieff states "it is not necessary to provide every person with every possible advantage or material good, but we must be willing to step in when fundamental rights are violated, whether by a government or some other group." (pg. 972)
 
    I agree with Ignatieff's beliefs, especially regarding his belief on helping our fellow citizens when one is in need of help. As we humans are all born as social beings, it is impossible to live on our own with no support. Sociologically, when a child is born, they are taken care of by their parents or guardians. Throughout the child's teen years and adult life they are supported at every step by their parents, guardians, friends, teachers, family, acquaintances and many more people. This shows that in every stage of a human's life, we gain support from others in order to live well. This is why I agree with Ignatieff's belief on human rights and democracy at a high level to run a country, because all humans are born with basic rights such as the right to live in security; which is also stated in Section 7 in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

      "Promoting the twin ideals of democracy and human rights is the best way to give meaning to our inherent sense of dignity." (pg. 974-975)     
    
     These two ideals are at the heart of Ignatieff's conception of international ethics, and to spread these two important ideals are his ultimate goal. He is "unabashed" in his defence for these two ideals mainly due to the practical benefits that they offer in promoting peace and allowing all individuals to flourish. He believes that a person's support for democracy and human rights is the "first" and "easiest" step; the real test for western governments comes in trying to reconcile their principles with the usual harsh realities of international politics.

      I agree with Ignatieff's beliefs on this such as the example of the troubles the American government had made in Iraq which however did not ruin the value of democracy and human rights; but simply gave democracy for the people. Another example of how human rights and democracy are so important for our society was in the current situation which happened in Egypt. The people of Egypt, Tunisia and several other Arab/African nations had protested and fought for their basic fundamental rights by creating violence throughout the country; but in end result the people had won by removing their corrupt President Hosni Mubarak out of role which created peace and democracy for the people of the nation. Many people found it wrong regarding the Iraq War and the US taking control of the country, although Ignatieff agreed with it and did not mind for this to happen as it was regarding human rights issues and democracy. I also somewhat agree with this as well, in the sense that Iraq was and still is an unstable country, and it needed some control for the people to live in the country with minimum basic needs such as food and security.

     "We want post-secondary education and training to be universal value, the way health care is a universal value."

    As  Micheal Ignatieff is currently running for the Federal Elections, today he had mentioned he will spend one billion dollars towards education.  Regarding to the quote above, he mentioned on March 29, 2011 (on his third day of his campaign) that he will provide $4000 to $6000 in bursaries to high school students for their post-secondary education as he believes that education is every individuals right, but is expensive for many people.

     "Canadian families want to invest in learning, but the cost of college and university is slipping out of reach for too many middle-class families." 

    I agree with Ignatieff, as many young people are starting to work and make money to live, but do not have enough money to pay for their tuitions. It is important for everyone to have an education because it is a fundamental right, and people should be able to receive a well education; with the help of some financial assistance.

      "Canada has to say very, very clearly that there needs to be a peaceful transition to free and fair elctions."

   In the quote above, Ignatieff states once again that democracy is important and is needed for people to live in a free and democratic country. To live in a safe and secure environment, it is necessary for peace to be present. As all said above, I agree with Ignatieff's beliefs on democracy and human rights as a type of government because individuals should all have their basic rights and be free in a democratic society. Ignatieff's beliefs also are similar to the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well, such as several sections in the Charter which mention democratic rights and basic individual rights, which all support Ignatieff's beliefs. These rights provide a better life for people socially, economically, democratically and financially.      
 

Michael Cotey Morgan, "Micheal Ignatieff: Idealism and the Challenge of the 'Lesser Evil'," International Journal, (Autumn, 2006), pp. 971-985.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Canadian Foreign Policy in Relation With Egypt's Current Issues

       Violence, protests and uproar has been taking place throughout Egypt at the end of January and into the beginning of February. Most of Egypt's population dislike their President Hosni Mubarak as he has been running a corrupt government. President Mubarak  has been ruling Egypt for thirty years as of now and most probably will resign out of office soon. On January 28, 2011 President Mubarak asked his Cabin to resign and promised reforms in his first response to protesters who have mounted the biggest challenge ever to his thirty year rule of Egypt. In response to the protests, President Mubarak's government shut down and blocked internet access all throughout the country and blocked cell phone networks. This was done in order for Egyptians to not communicate via social networking sites such as Twitter and texting each other from cell phones in regards to protests and violence which would spread around the country drastically. Many lives of innocent individuals have been taken as well as police officers during Egypt's crisis.

    Canada's response to Egypt's crisis was to remain calm and respect the freedom, human rights, democracy and the rule of law. Canada calls on Egypt's government to ensure that their freedom of expression is respected by, along with other measures such as unblocking the internet and cell phone networks. Canada urges the Egyptian government to ensure freedom of political expression to its citizens as it is part of their freedom of expression.

      Canada's response to Egypt's crisis seems dull as a reflection of our Canadian values because all we basically did was to ensure the people of Egypt that they will have their internet and cell phone networks back as soon as possible as well as informing the government several times to guarantee them their freedom of political expression to its citizens. Yes, the Egyptians should get their democratic rights back as we have in our Canadian values since an individuals rights to freedom and democracy is stated in the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms; therefore our response displays a positive reflection of our Canadian values.


Hosni Mubarak

      There has been many people who have lost their lives in these political protests and many have suffered from the loss of their individual freedoms. I believe the official response of the Government of Canada should be that we should increase our activity in assisting throughout a democracy in Egypt. We should also be alert of the elections, making sure that the votes are counted properly in a fair manner because corruptivity may and certainly will occur such as during the elections when Hosni Mubarak had been re-elected many times. To prevent a corrupt government running Egypt, Canada should step in letting Egyptian citizens have their freedom of expression and democracy as Canada is a nation who brings peace to others.

“He is a liar, and he is making things up to make the army and the people enemies,”

     Values are very important for people all over the world and based on values is how many people live their everyday life. Values are hugely respected and needed throughout the world even in international diplomacy. To negotiate peaceful relations between nations and people, values do matter no matter how good or bad the situation is. Almost all countries throughout the world have similar values and morals, a common one being not to kill someone.

Egypt has been "the intellectual heart and soul of the Arab world," says Robin Wright, author of Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East. "As a trendsetter, it has influenced everything from the dominant ideology in the region to relations with Israel."
    With the Canadian foreign policy helping out in Egypt in its current situation, it  gives Canada a good reputation and good ties with Egypt. This is good for our own western policy interests. Now what do we gain from helping out in Egypt? Well, as Egypt is one of the main trading centre within the Arab countries, we may have special access to their natural resources and goods in their country which will be a benefit for Canada. In short, the Canadian foreign policy needs to be smart when dealing with a huge situation as it may benefit our nation in future.

"If the principles imply that we're contradicting some of our economic interests that's maybe the right thing to do at this point." - Thomas Woodley, president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East.

Anyhow political theorist Machiavelli believes that a man should gain as much power as possible whether is  hated or loved by others. Machiavelli states that it is better to be feared than to be loved by others as long as the individual has the most power in hand. Mubarak is not an example of Machiavelli because yes, Mubarak did gain power and control of Egypt for a certain amount of time, but in the end result Mubarak was kicked out of his position by his own people.
John Locke

      Thomas Hobbes and John Locke are two political theorists who have different yet similar political theories. Thomas Hobbes came up with the term "state of nature" which means what life would be like without having a ruling government. In the state of nature, every individual have their rights, or license to everything in the world. In this state, people fear death and lack essential items which are necessary for everyday life, as well the hope of being able to toil to obtain the. According to Thomas Hobbes, he believes that society is a population which is under a sovereign authority, to whom all people in that society seek a few rights for the sake of security and protection. Hobbes also believes that any abuse to this power is accepted as the sovereign must control civil, judicial and military powers.


Thomas Hobbes

     However, John Locke argues Hobbes that human nature is characterized by tolerance and reason. A similarity between Hobbes are Locke is that both believe that it is the human nature which allows men to be naturally selfish. In a natural state all individuals are equal and indepenedent, and everyone has the natural right to defend their social possessions such as an individual's liberty and health.  

     In relation with Locke and Hobbes and Egypt's crisis with Canada's involvement, Mubarak is not portrayed as Hobbes because the people of Egypt did not follow their soverign authority and he was not able to control his people within his territory. On the other hand, Canada believes in freedom and democracy for all people and that all people have an equal amount of rights. Locke also believes that people have their natural rights such as their right to life, health and liberty. This sounds similar like Canada's Charter of Rights and Freedom for example in Section 7 of the Charter it guarantees all individuals their right to life, liberty and security. Canada's role would be to let the peope of Egypt seek their freedom in the country while Hobbes would just barge into Egypt creating havoc and making people do only what the government commands. Locke would believe that all violence and damage caused in Egypt by the protesters were done in order to gain freedom and democracy within their country and not be ruled by a corrupt government. In the Egypt situation, Hobbes is being thrown down as the ruling government did not succeed and rule their people resulting Mubarak in loss.

    Hence Hobbe's political theory is not much applicable throughout the situation which had currently occurred in Egypt, making Locke's theory more successful regarding Egypt's crisis and Canada's role in Egypt.
   

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hitler - A Modern Machiavellian Prince

Adolph Hitler (left)
Niccolo Machiavelli (right)

     Niccolo Machiavelli is an Italian diplomat, political theorist, and a historian who has written the political book called The Prince. Machiavelli emphasized the need for realism, as opposed to idealism. In The Prince, he does not explain what he believes is the best ethical or political goals, except the control of one's fortune. Throughout The Prince, Machiavelli explains how a perfect ruler or dictator should be and also one who does not hesitate when he must take a decision. He also talks about how a man who is mentally powerful who cannot be brought down by any words or actions done by others. A famous line from The Prince is "It's better to be feared/hated than to be loved." However, there are many types of Machiavellian leaders and dictators in today's time such as Saddam Hussein, Napoleon, Hosni Mubarak, Vladimir Putin and Hitler just to name a few! Anyhow, I will relate to how Hitler is an example of  a modern day Machiavellian prince from his past actions throught his period of ruling in Germany.


      "It's better to be feared/hated than to be loved." - From The Prince


The quote above by Machiavelli is a famous line from his readings named The Prince. It relates majorly with Hitler's personality. Hitler believes that it is better for people to hate or be scared of him rather than being loved. An example of this is Hitler's hatred on the Jews, he believed the Jews were the cause of the World Wars leading him to torture the Jews and letting the Jews fear Hitler. He always followed the path of being feared thinking it is better because at least he will be the person who is always in power and is heard by all. Hitler's actions prove Machiavelli's saying because he was feared by millions of people throughout the world but also was the only person in dominant power.


Machiavelli also states in The Prince that "war should be the only study of a prince". He should consider peace only as a breathing  time, which gives him leisure to contrive, and furnishes as ability to execute, military plans. Hitler had caused many wars in Europe before World War Two between the alliances and other European countries regarding land and territories. As long as Hitler did not accomplish what his goal was, then he would be in constant war with another nation, and yes he did consider peace only as a breathing time as he always had violence occur between the people and nations. He would always be making up military plans such as when he wanted to invade parts of Russia and other small nation states which relates with Machiavelli's quote mentioned above. Also, Hitler always had himself armed by security and weapons; Machiavelli also believes that one can only be victorious if he himself is well-equiped with weapons and confidence.


"Hence it comes about that all armed Prophets have been victorious, and all unarmed Prophets have been destroyed." - says Machiavelli from The Prince

 
     Machiavelli wrote in The Prince that one can do anything to achieve his political goals, relating back to Hitlers political goals of killing each and every Jew there was in Germany and most of Europe. Hitler had gone to such an extent to achieve his political goal that he had the holocaust occur, killing over six million Jews in a variety of concentration camps, slavery and hunger. Hitler supports Machiavelli's idea of doing anything to achieve one's political goals setting Machiavelli to be a role model for these types of rulers and dictators.


"It is necessary for him who lays out a state and arranges laws for it to presuppose that all men are evil and that they are always going to act according to the wickedness of their spirits whenever they have free scope." - Machiavelli states from The Prince

 
      Hitler is a modern-day example of a Machiavellian prince as he followed most of Machiavelli's ideas and supports many of the ideas written in The Prince. As Machiavelli would say, one was not born to power, he seized and kept it as the only way to keep power if you are not born to it was to keep it through bloody means; all of which Hitler had committed and did it successfully. Hitler kept his position in dominant power and ruled for years and did anything to keep this ruling power, which is why he is a great example of a Machiavellian prince.