Which Leader in the Last King of Scotland or All the Kings Men Was in Line with Machiavelli’s Views on Being Feared or Loved, Attaining/Maintaining Power, and Reputation Better?

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Film Paper December 1, 2013 Alec Estes Which leader in the Last King of Scotland or All the Kings Men was in line with Machiavelli’s views on being feared or loved, attaining/maintaining power, and reputation better? Machiavelli’s views on ruling pertain to princes in the 16th century, but dictators, such as Suddam Hussein, and presidents, such as George Bush, alike have adopted Machiavelli’s teachings to maintain their power. Machiavelli urged princes to rule by whatever means necessary and argued that being fear proves more powerful than being loved. He believed that people respond favorably toward a ruler out of fear, and, that should someone oppose his views, a ruler can and should take immediate and drastic action. A reputation, Machiavelli stated, every ruler can gain with “great enterprises and giving proof of prowess,” meaning that if a ruler can prove the overwhelming greatness of his country, he will earn a respected reputation amongst his neighbors. (Machiavelli 110).” Both the Last King of Scotland and All the Kings Men incorporate these ideas into their plot, despite their differences in time period and political structure. However, the dictator in The Last King of Scotland utilizes Machiavelli’s ideals more strictly than the governor in All the Kings Men. In the Last King of Scotland, the British put the dictator of Uganda into power with the intention to continue trade and promote the colony’s growth. When he came into power, the Ugandan people wholeheartedly welcomed their new dictator, Ida Amin. He served in their army and faced their same racial struggles; therefore everyone saw him as one of them. Amin intended to use the power of love to enhance Uganda’s global standing, but as the weeks progressed, the people grew restless over the slow pace of reformation. In order to keep his country together, Amin turned to a

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