ABSTRACT. The objective of this paper is to emphasize the timeliness of Machiavelli’s example of civic engagement, the specificity of Machiavelli’s political thought, and the relationship between Christian religion and republican political thought. Bernard claims that Machiavelli identifies discord as a potential source of political progress. Hörnqvist contends that Machiavelli’s conception existed within legal thought at the time a contrasting realist tradition based on pragmatic political considerations and the advocacy of reason of state. Femia holds that Machiavelli supports his generalizations with examples drawn from several different periods of history. Viroli observes that Machiavelli works with the power of words to bring about the birth of a new religious and moral custom, puts into practice the belief that the civil religion lives on the power of words, and considers persuasion to be of little importance in political action. pp. 172–184

Keywords: Machiavelli, civic, engagement, political, republican, religion