Editor’s Column: Applying Machiavellian Ideas on Leadership to Libraries

Michael Lorenzen, Michigan Library Association's MLA Forum, Volume VI, 2008

In the early 16th Century, Niccolo Machiavelli wrote The Prince. In this work, he gave advice to the rulers of Renaissance Italy on how to successfully use power to be great leaders. The book was well received and in the following five centuries it has been examined and analyzed by philosophers, military men, politicians, and businessmen. A recent interpretation of Machiavelli was written by Ledeen (1999) in which the author showed how Machiavelli is relevant in the modern world in a variety of settings.
Contents:

Does Machiavellian Theory Fit Library Leadership?

Basic Machiavellian Concepts

Entering into Evil

Conclusion

References:

Forsman, R. B. (2003). Machiavelli and me: Strategies for sidestepping the budget axe during tough times. Colorado libraries, 29(3), 9-11.

Kierkegaard, S. (1954). Fear and trembling. Garden City, New York: Doubleday.

Ledeen, M. A. (1999). Machiavelli on modern leadership. New York: St. Martin’s Press.


Lorenzen, M. (2003). Teaching and learning on the Web. Academic Exchange Quarterly, 7(1), 3.

Lorenzen, M. (2006). Strategic planning for academic library instructional programming. Illinois Libraries 86(2): 22-29.
Machiavelli, N. (1964). The Prince. New York: St. Martin Press.

Maxwell, J. (1992). Whether it is better to be loved or feared: Acquisitions librarianship as Machiavelli might have described it. Library acquisitions, 16(2), 113-17.