Niccolò Machiavelli, the European Commission and TTIP

The 16^th century treatise on statecraft “The Prince” by Niccolò Machiavelli is Realpolitik explained at its best. How is absolute power gained? Is there a place for morality and ideals in politics?

John Hilary, executive director of War on Want, asks EU trade commissioner Cecilia Malmströem about TTIP:  “How do you feel knowing that the strength of opposition to your plans is growing every day?”

Malmstroem: “I do acknowledge that what we are doing is deeply unpopular, but I do not take my mandate from the European people.”

Machiavelli: “A prince must not have any other object nor any other thought… but war (TTIP is war, 21^th century economic war), its institutions, and its discipline; because that is the only art befitting one who commands.”

EU commissioners take their mandate from the owners of big capital – the princes of the 21^st century!