The Machiavellians by James Burnham Summary

The Machiavellians by James Burnham examines the political theories of Machiavelli and modern thinkers like Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, Robert Michels, and Georges Sorel. The book argues that every society divides into ruling class and ruled, that pure democracy is impossible, and that political ideologies are myths disguising power struggles. Burnham demonstrates how understanding these realities—rather than idealistic visions—is essential for preserving freedom through balanced power structures.

The Machiavellians is essential reading for political science students, policy analysts, and anyone seeking to understand power dynamics in government and organizations. Leaders, strategists, and those interested in political philosophy will benefit from Burnham's scientific approach to analyzing how ruling classes operate. The book particularly appeals to readers who want to move beyond political rhetoric and understand the real mechanisms behind governance, social movements, and institutional power.

The Machiavellians is worth reading for its groundbreaking analysis of political power and its enduring insights into governance. James Burnham's synthesis of Machiavellian thought provides a realistic framework for understanding politics that remains relevant decades after publication. While George Orwell criticized Burnham's "apocalyptic prophecies," the book's core thesis about power, liberty, and ruling class dynamics offers valuable perspective for navigating political complexity. Its scientific approach to politics challenges idealistic assumptions about democracy.

James Burnham was a former Marxist intellectual who abandoned communism and wrote The Machiavellians in 1943 to present a new theory of political power. After writing The Managerial Revolution, Burnham turned to Machiavellian thinkers to grapple with totalitarianism and political contingency in the 1940s. He sought intellectual salvation in the Machiavellian tradition's objective, scientific approach to understanding how societies actually function, rather than how they should ideally operate.

The ruling class theory in The Machiavellians states that every society, always and everywhere, divides into two groups: rulers and ruled. Gaetano Mosca's concept, central to Burnham's analysis, demonstrates that true rule by an individual or majority is impossible—power always defaults to an organized minority. Even in democracies, a small elite controls political outcomes, and a nation's strength depends entirely on the nature of its ruling class. Revolutionary overthrows merely replace one ruling class with another.

Political formula in The Machiavellians refers to the myth or ideology that justifies the current ruling class's power. Introduced by Gaetano Mosca, this concept explains how elites use ideologies—democracy, divine right, social justice—to disguise their real goals of maintaining power and privileges. Burnham emphasizes distinguishing between "formal meaning" (stated ideals) and "real meaning" (actual power motives) in political discourse. Understanding political formulas reveals how masses cooperate without realizing they serve elite interests.

The Machiavellian method in James Burnham's analysis is a scientific approach to studying politics based on empirical observation rather than moral ideals. This method focuses on understanding politics as it actually is—centered on power struggles and elite behavior—not how it should be according to ethical philosophy. Machiavellians analyze real political facts, correlate observable patterns, and eschew advocacy or ideological goals. The approach examines rulers' actual behaviors and motivations rather than accepting their public justifications at face value.

The Machiavellians analyzes five major political thinkers who form the Machiavellian tradition: Niccolò Machiavelli, Gaetano Mosca, Vilfredo Pareto, Robert Michels, and Georges Sorel. Mosca contributed the ruling class and political formula concepts; Pareto developed theories of elite circulation and "derivations"; Michels formulated the iron law of oligarchy in organizations. These Italian school theorists share the belief that elite rule is inevitable and that understanding power realities is essential for preserving freedom.

The Machiavellians contains powerful quotes revealing political realities.

• "Only power restrains power" means no theory, morality, or promises can limit governmental authority—only competing power centers provide checks.
• "The struggle for existence has been confused with the struggle for pre-eminence" distinguishes survival from the quest for dominance driving human political behavior.
• "Without leaving the present, without reasoning about this future... we should be unable to act at all" explains how political myths, though not literally true, are necessary for motivating collective action.

The Machiavellians defends freedom by arguing that liberty requires balanced competition among multiple power centers, not democratic ideals. Burnham defines liberty as security protecting individuals from arbitrary power, which necessitates the right of opposition—allowing opponents to publicly challenge governing elites. Freedom survives only when relatively autonomous social forces exist (military, church, industry, labor, agriculture) and no single force dominates all aspects of life. This Montesquieu-inspired framework shows that real social conflicts, not harmony, enable civilized free society.

George Orwell famously criticized The Machiavellians for containing "apocalyptic prophecies" and argued Burnham was "fascinated by the spectacle of power". Orwell claimed Burnham evaluated power based on momentary success and impending doom, making him unreliable in predicting political outcomes. Critics note that despite boasting objectivity, Burnham's work contains "millenarian rhetoric" and theological remainders that undermine his scientific claims. Others question whether Burnham adequately distinguished between describing power realities and potentially justifying authoritarian governance through cynical realism.

The Machiavellians remains relevant in 2025 because its insights about ruling class dynamics, political myths, and power concentration apply to contemporary challenges like corporate oligarchy, tech platform dominance, and polarized governance. Burnham's warning about centralized state power threatening liberty through managerial elites resonates with concerns about surveillance capitalism and administrative state expansion. The book's framework for analyzing real versus formal political meanings helps decode modern political rhetoric, social movements, and institutional behavior in ways that transcend specific historical contexts.