Personal View on Lao-tzu, Machiavelli, and Bhutto

Personal View on Lao-tzu, Machiavelli, and Bhutto.
Lao-tzu, Machiavelli, and Bhutto are some of the most influential authors who have greatly influenced the political arena before and even after their deaths, not only in their respective countries but all over the world over. There are many people who have been inspired as well as influenced by their ideologies, which were displayed in the books. The entire world view them and their ideologies as important part of global history that cannot be overlooked.
Political scholars influenced by Lao-tzu ideas have upheld quietude in authority and a controlled way to deal with statecraft, either for moral and radical reasons or for strategic closures. In an alternate setting, anti-dictatorship developments have grasped the Laozi lessons on the force of the frail Lao-tzu was among the earliest advocates of basically rebel ideas (Laozi et al. 37). All the more, as of late agitators, for example, Ursula K. Le Guin and John P. Clark have expounded on the conjunction amongst turmoil and Taoism in different ways, highlighting the lessons of Laozi specifically. Lao-tzu sees legitimate power as earned and wrongful power as usurped. From his analogy, he views sacrificing of oneself or others as a debasement of force. Tao Te Ching points out that a good leader should be a warrior, a healer, and a Tao, he or she should be able to know when to listen to his people or subjects, when to act and when to withdraw (Laozi et al. 57). Although humility has not been highly valued in the modern day culture, it seems to be a very powerful leadership skill as per La-tzu.

Machiavelli was an Italian author who recommended that the social advantages of steadiness and security could be accomplished notwithstanding moral defilement. He is famous for switching the sense of “virtue” from righteous worth to effectiveness. He describes the virtuous figures of a leader as one who can do anything possible to seize and maintain the neighboring territory, even if the acts are against the rights of the people. Machiavelli trusted that open and private profound quality must be comprehended as two distinct things with a specific end goal to control well. Accordingly, a ruler must be concerned with notoriety, as well as must be decidedly eager to act improperly at the right times (Wagner et al. 61). Machiavelli accepted as a ruler, it was ideal to be broadly dreaded than to be significantly cherished. In a lot of Machiavelli’s work, it appears that the ruler must embrace unpleasant approaches for the continuation of his administration.
Benazir Bhutto was the eleventh Prime Minister of Pakistan and the first woman to have headed a nation with majority being Muslim. She once went into exile to evade the prison sentenced that was imposed on her; but upon coming back, her homecoming rally was hit by a suicide attack (Bhutto, 45). She is popularly known for her defense of the Islamic ideologies and democracy from those outside who viewed Islam as a religion of violence and fear. She pinpoints the Qur’an verses that talk about peace, plurality and democratic traditions of debates and consensus, as well as quoting strong verses that forbid the actions, which extremists claim that that they are necessary or try to justify their actions as acts of ‘Jihad’ (Bhutto, 53). Although she defends the Islamic way of life, Bhutto does not waver in the constancy of her message that there is a dire need for criticism and change in most of the Muslim nations. She has mentioned several occasions where Muslims have been fast at berating the Western nations for their acts of injustice, but when it comes to the violence among the Muslims themselves like in Afghanistan and Darfur, all of them become silent (Bhutto, 85). She argues that the failure of democracies in the majority of the Muslim nations was due to their political roots rather than what many people say about it being linked to Islamic ideologies (Bhutto, 87). Bhutto points out that the west plays a shoddy role in promoting dictators undermining the role of democracy. Throughout his ideologies, she views a leader as a force of creativity and one who has a bold commitment towards democracy and development.
Today we still read the books written by these authors because they are important in gaining more knowledge on politics. The information still applies to the current political situations. I especially connect with the writings of Lao-tzu. His teachings influence politics and leadership positively. He talks about good leaders being recognized for their work, which is letting their good reputation speak for them. This can only be achieved through interactions between the leaders and the commoners, which according to me is a positive act by a leader. From Lao-Tzu’s ideology, he emphasizes on education, strict abiding of the law and the power of Knowledge (Laozi et al. 72). In this case, Lao-tzu’s ideologies seem to be much logical and helpful in the modern society.
Machiavelli’s books, on the other hand, can actually negatively influence politics. I especially do not agree with his idea that morality in leadership does not necessarily bring good outcome and that it is better to be feared by the people you rule. This system promotes dictatorship; therefore, it is bound to bring about strain between the ruler and the subjects, which is bad for the growth and development of a society. From his point of view, it is normal and natural for a leader to grab other people’s territories and make them theirs. It might be argued that Machiavelli’s system is the main ideology being used by some modern day leaders, thus causing the continuous violence in different parts of the world. The world does not need ‘The Prince’ to have the inspiration of committing every immoral activity it names and many more. Machiavelli’s system is somehow in contrast to Lao-tzu’s model of a good leader.

References
Laozi, ,Guin U. K. Le, Jerome P. Seaton, and Todd Barton. Tao TeChing: A Book About the Way and the Power of the Way. Boston, Mass: Shambhala, 2009. Print.
Wagner, Heather L. Machiavelli: Renaissance Political Analyst and Author. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2006. Internet resource.
Bhutto, Benazir. Reconciliation : Islam, democracy, and the West. London: Simon & Schuster, 2008. Print.