Realpolitik screws you up - 1 April 2009 |
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Julius II was different (Tuchman, March of Folly, pp. 92ff.). Though not immune from the occasional binge, he certainly ‘was no Alexander‘ (p. 99) – lacking the latter’s talent for provocative ungodliness. Indeed, Julius was ‘motivated by neither personal greed nor nepotism’, but by a desire to restore ‘the political and territorial integrity of the Papal States’ (p. 92). Not a bad idea. I mean, what else is the Pope supposed to do?
Sadly, Julius was ‘as oblivious as his three predecessors to the extent of disaffection in the constituency he governed’ (p. 92). He combined this myopia with a gritty determination to get to the top and fix the papal mess by whatever means necessary in order to pursue the reform which, in his view, the papacy so badly needed. After all, ‘virtue without power … will only be mocked’ (p. 103).
Unfortunately, as Julius discovered, the pursuit of good ends (let’s give him the benefit of the doubt, OK?) by corrupt means has a tendency to screw you up:
It is the persuasive argument of realpolitik, which, as history has so often demonstrated, has a corollary: that the process of gaining power employs means that degrade or brutalize the seeker, who wakes up to find that power has been possessed at the price of virtue – or moral purpose – lost. (p. 103)
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Posted by Steve Jeffery · Topics: Books, Minister's Blog, The March of Folly