The Machiavellians

Burnham on Machiavelli, Mosca, Sorel, Michels and Pareto — the tradition that describes politics as the behaviour of ruling minorities, and treats stated ideals as the formula rather than the motive.

Why it’s on the list: Named in the “how the world really works” thread. Its counter-intuitive thesis is in the subtitle: that the people willing to describe power honestly are the ones who make freedom possible.

Where I saw it: In Kyle’s “Books To Read” Apple Note, recovered from the reply thread to @SpencrGreenberg asking “What non-fiction book taught you the most about how the world (or how humanity or society) really works?” (June 5, 2025). The full recovered list lives on A question for you — What non-fiction… (tweet).

Connections

• A question for you — What non-fiction… (tweet) — the thread this came out of; the full recovered list lives there.
• Power — the subject.
• The Prince — the tradition’s founding text.
• People Over Politics — the portfolio idea this sits under.