Ukraine (thread 1), Episode 2: What Would Machiavelli Say About the Russia–Ukraine War?

This episode applies Niccolò Machiavelli’s lessons on power, virtu, and fortuna to the Russia–Ukraine war, arguing he would view it as a familiar struggle between survival, overreach, and political image-making.

It contrasts Putin’s miscalculations with Zelensky’s skillful use of appearance, courage, and narrative, and offers concise Machiavellian advice for Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and Europe about strategy, alliances, and the dangers of moral self-deception.