Power Strategies in Sun Tzu's "The Art of War" and Machiavelli's "The Prince"

To take over a nation or organization, the cleverest method to take would be by following the wise advices of Sun Tzu in his remarkable work the Art of War and Machiavelli in his notable work The Prince. By following these wise strategies, perhaps not only a country, but the whole world can be taken over. Although written in the beginning of time, Tzu’s strategies are still relevant and effective; “There was no greater war leader and strategist than Chinese military general Sun Tzu” (Jackson, 2014). Machiavelli, an infamous strategist, wrote the Prince as a theory of an effective government and “famously asserted that good rulers sometimes have to learn “not to be good”, they have to be willing to set aside ethical concerns of justice, honesty, and kindness to maintain the stability of the state” (“Niccolo Machiavelli and the Prince”, 2013). This paper will explore how a country can realistically be dominated and overcome by following key advices by Sun Tzu from his work The Art of War and Machiavelli from his work the Prince.

The first thing a leader needs to take over a country is trust in themselves. They have to have strong foundations and foreseen future with his or her goals achieved. Rather than following other leaders’ examples, it’s significant to set one’s own path. It wouldn’t be favored to follow someone who’s already following someone else’s footsteps. People are hungry for a natural born leader. However, regardless of how good intentioned one initially was, all that has to be left behind with the promise of taking over a nation. According to Machiavelli, the greatest leaders aren’t the most just are most good-hearted ones, but instead the greatest leaders are those who does whatever it takes to get to their goal.

Once the trust in self and the priorities of what needs to be done is set straight, the target, namely the enemy, needs to be analyzed and observed. The enemy will be the leader of the nation the leader is attempting to take over. This is why good intentions need to be left behind, because although you want to get to your goal, you have to realize many people are going to lose their lives over this cause and the rest are going to have to live for a ruler who killed their family and friends, but these things must be ignored. To be able to go through with the plan initially created, it must be ignored. Prior to actually trying take over the targeted nation, the leader of that nation will be spoken to. It’s wiser to make an offer or talk things out before actually taking action, and by doing this one can also analyze and observe the enemy. While this interaction, it’s wise to act the way that is predicted. “Engage people with what they expect; it is what they ae able to discern and confirms their projections. It settles them into predictable patterns of response, occupying their minds while you wait for the extraordinary moment – that which they cannot anticipate” (“The Art of War”, n.d.). The enemy at this point is going to assume they already know the way you think and how you plan things out. Once action is already taken, the enemy will not have expected what was coming their way from the very beginning. When the enemy is relaxed, assuming that we are weak and basically a joke for the approach taken against them, is when it’s time to attack. Not only will the enemy be taken by surprise, but with the help of a well-spirited and loyal army the whole thing wouldn’t take too much up of a time.

As can be seen, both Niccolo Machievelli and Sun Tzu has provided the countless number of generations after them with the most valuable advices that can’t be compared. With the help of these advices, one who sets their mind on something can truly take over an organization, or perhaps even a country. By initially having full trust in yourself and being deceptive in your ways, a leader sets a path open for him or herself. Being deceptive is the key for not allowing the enemy know your true intentions and fool them to think that you’re predictable when in fact you are about to conquer the one thing they live for. Although the best victory is one taken without the means of battle and war, if necessary, it’s critical to have a loyal army that will follow you to the end of your dreams.