Short Paper #3: 500 (min)-600 (max) words; 12.5 points. Prompt: Write a short pa

Short Paper #3: 500 (min)-600 (max) words; 12.5 points.
Prompt: Write a short paper on Machiavelli’s thesis and its relevance today.
Critically evaluate Machiavelli’s thesis that the on-going struggle between elites (patricians) and common people (plebians) and the periodic tumult of the people are indispensable for preserving republican liberties, institutions, and solidarities against the predations and transgressions of the elites. This thesis is primarily based on Machiavelli’s reading (via Livy) of the history of the Roman Republic and is drawn from practical experience with the Italian city-republics of his time (review Skinner’s essay).
On the other hand, it is conceivable, as attested by the history of the Roman Republic (review the slide on the Lessons of the Roman Republic), that the constant struggle between elites and masses paves the way for the emergence of an authoritarian figure (often popular), who promises to end civil strife and to ensure peace and stability, leading to a weakening, if not the end, of republican liberties and self-rule. (Please note that Machiavelli was aware of this danger, but it is not discussed in the reading assigned to you)
What do you make of these two contradictory propositions and possibilities (outcomes)? Is there any way of managing the conflict between elites and common people that can avoid the emergence of an authoritarian figure or solution? Does this problem/challenge resonate with and relate to our experience of democratic crisis today?
Descriiptive Part of Assignment: Please give a descriiptive/analytic summary of the two propositions (paragraph 1 and 2 of the prompt). To complete this part of the assignment, draw on the assigned readings by Machiavelli and essay by Skinner, on The Italian City-Republics.
Interpretive Part of Assignment: Here, you should address the questions posed in paragraph 3 in the prompt and answer them to the best of your ability drawing on class lectures in which those questions have been a recurrent theme since the beginning of the course.