In Machiavelli's “Prince” the use of fear as a political tool to maintain the state is discussed. He argued that fear, if properly addressed, could generate loyalty and strengthen government support. He went on to write that fear was only powerful when handled with care and when abused it could quickly become counterproductive and lead to people's hatred. Fear was powerful because it was the prince's creation. Unlike love which is given to the prince and can easily be taken away, fear is the prince's tool and his alone. “…men love of their own free will but fear by the will of the prince…” Politicians throughout history have used fear-based tactics with varying degrees of success. For the purposes of my argument I will compare Machiavellian concepts of the use of fear with contemporary examples to demonstrate its benefits, particularly in consolidating power and promoting obedience. Machiavelli went to great lengths in his writings to outline the rules that govern the use of fear. . He made the distinction between being feared and being hated. To be feared was to be respected and obeyed. Being hated, however, bred discontent and revolt. The unique force of fear can be seen in 1950s America, where fear played an economic as well as political role in shaping government policy and public opinions. The 1950s were in many ways a time of uncertainty. Americans feared the external threat of communism and the looming threat of nuclear war, but above all they feared each other. The proliferation of the military industrial complex in the Eisenhower administration, combined with the anti-communist media frenzy, caused Americans to be extremely suspicious and consider the possibility that spies were involved. Many politicians......middle of paper......actively could be a prince's most powerful tool. Fear was a creation that could be used to manipulate people into the best interests of the government and strengthen a prince against all foreign and domestic threats. Fear has taken many forms throughout history and has been instrumental in building many modern states. From the beginning of civilization to the present, fear has remained unchanged as a fundamental human emotion and powerful ally for those willing to exercise it. Works Cited Ranzer, Marci, "McCarthyism" Encyclomedia, 2007, accessed 01/24/10, http: //www.encyclomedia.com/mccarthyism.htmlUSA Patriot Act, HR 3162 RDS, 107th Congress, October 24, 2001, accessed 24 /01/10, http://epic.org/privacy/terrorism/hr3162.htmlSimkin, John, “Nazi Germany”, Spartacus Educational, 2001, accessed 01/24/10 http://www.spartacus.schoolnet. co.uk/GERjews.htm