The Hidden Machiavellianism of Education

As college students prepare to enter their chosen fields, they often have little understanding of the power dynamics that occupy their different paths. In the study of the 'Prince of Darkness' himself, Niccolò Machiavelli, one finds that the power struggles that exist in the world are far from merely academic. While there is no doubt a certain mastery of machinations one can gain by studying any field, the power dynamics take on a more pronounced level when studying politics and law.

At the same time, theoretical studies are not a perfect reflection of the real-world application of Machiavellianism. Yet the same tenets can still be found among those studying social work, nursing, and education, although largely latent. Many online forums for these types of fields include conversations about workplace bullying and governance, reflecting an undetected presence in those disciplines. Those who remain vulnerable to the manipulation of the power possessed by cold hard authority figures, however, may still be present.

Within a classroom setting, educational discourse can appear muddled and lost. Pragmatic rule-making measures may come off as apathetic or authoritarian, while strict enforcement of protocol could be seen as discriminatory. Amidst the complexity of human dynamics, discrepancies of authority pervade, leading to unequal relationships between students and educators. While it may not be intentional, the teacher-student relationship can easily become unbalanced, with subtle preference for certain students over others. Such exertion of power may be indicative of Machiavellianism at play, for which sharp enforcement encourages more passive acquiescence.

In the transactional teaching environments of the education world, many are left fearful and resentful of being treated as disposable objects with little recourse. Even students of higher aptitude or ‘favored’ students may feel lesser among their peers, submitting to the demands of their superior out of fear of society's punitive expectations. This inculcates among them the belief of their own inferiority, seeking approval or recognition to no avail.

The complexities of human interaction allows for delicate testing grounds in which Machiavellianism may go unnoticed, as effusive displays of power are generally scorned in polite society. Not only this, but there is a plethora of never-ending rules and regulations imposed by governments and institutions that may conflict amongst themselves, giving the table-setter wriggling room to implement their own rules. Working from outside the box and leading from the front, individuals ambitious enough to formalize their own agendas gain control quickly, often beyond their own level of competency.

A recent poll among university students paints an interesting picture. When tasked with deciding to whom Machiavellianism applies, the vast majority pointed to those studying politics and law. Yet a substantial amount also thought of fields such as education, nursing, and social work as appropriate, as though a vestige of something remains. Given the arbitrary nature of power dynamics and environment differences, such an opinion should not be surprising.

It is certainly true that Machiavellianism has its intended and unintended victims, making it problematic at times. More often than we'd like, those working and studying within education have been subject to trumped up accusations and baseless allegations, silencing the voices they sought to protect. While students of politics and law feel the grasp of Machiavellianism on a daily basis, those with purer intentions in social work, nursing, and education too, succumb to its insidious allure.