Chapter 17: Management by Fear

In chapter XVII in ‘The Prince’: ‘Of cruelty and clemency, and whether it is better to be loved than feared’ Machiavelli says a.o. things that it will be desirable to be both the one and the other; but as it is difficult to be both at the same time, it is much safer to be feared than to be loved. Men have less hesitation in offending one who makes himself beloved than one who makes himself feared, for love holds by a bond of obligation which, is broken whenever it is for the interest of the obliged party. But fear holds by the apprehension of punishment, which never leaves men.

To what extent does Machiavelli’s thought’s apply to the roles and responsibilities of modern leaders from different countries, cultures and trades? What are the pros and cons in using management by fear?

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Participants:
  Poul Nyrup Rasmussen
  Mads Øvlisen
  Jan Carlzon
  Dame Anita Roddick
  John Dunn
  Stan Shih
  Steven Hilton
  Richard Valdemar
  Larry Flynt
  Bruce Cohen