ENDURING IMPRINTS AND LEGACIES OF MACHIAVELLIAN POLITICAL TREATISE ON REALIST THEORY OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

ABSTRACT The study examined the lasting imprints and legacies of Machiavellian political treatise on Realist theory of international politics. Three themes were set out for examination to: assess the background to Machiavelli's political thought; the main themes of Machiavelli's political thought and its criticisms and the extent it has made lasting imprints and legacies on the Realism in international politics. Anchored on the theory of Social Constructivism, the study adopted the historical-analytical design utilizing the qualitative method which relied on secondary sources of data collection and analysis including scholarly textbooks, journal articles, working papers, institutional seminar and lecture materials, YouTube and other internet sources. Findings show among others that the background influence of Machiavelli‘s political treatise were the Renaissance, instability and struggle for power, foreign invasion, experience from his diplomatic/civil service career and historical scholarship. Moreso, the main themes of Machiavelli‘s treatise were; preference for pragmatism over idealism, power politics, cynical human nature, preference for virtù over fortune and moralism. Furthermore, Machiavelli‘s influence/contributions to Realist theory among others are: pragmatism and adaptability, strategic decision-making and crisis management, deepening scholarship in political realism, maximization of state power dynamics and rational pursuit of state‘s interests over moralism, security and survival of state. There is therefore, need for further research on Machiavelli's treatise to deepen understanding and refine its applications in contemporary world. Keywords: Legacies, imprints, political treatise, realist theory, international politics.