Application of Machiavelli's Political Thought on Contemporary Eastern-European Political Regimes

The bachelor's thesis focuses on the application of Niccolò Machiavelli's political thought to contemporary Eastern European political regimes, specifically the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. The aim of the thesis is to assess whether and to what extent the rule of Vladimir Putin and Alexander Lukashenko can be described as Machiavellian, while simultaneously examining the timelessness of Machiavelli's political theses under the conditions of the 21st century. On the basis of a contextual interpretation of Machiavelli's works, an analytical model is constructed that encompasses four dimensions of the exercise of power: accession to power, maintenance of power, international politics, and the approach to war. This model is subsequently applied in the form of a qualitative comparative case study. The analysis shows that both examined regimes display a significant degree of conformity with Machiavelli's conception of power, particularly in the areas of consolidation of rule, management of elites, and the role of armed forces. At the same time, the limits of a direct application of Renaissance theory to the modern political environment become apparent. The thesis concludes that Machiavelli's political thought remains analytically relevant, provided that it is applied with regard to...