The 48 Laws of Power
Author: Robert Greene and Joost Elffers
London: Profile Books Ltd. 2001

This is one book which, I believe, politicians would openly condemn, religious leaders decry, and moralists object; yet, this would be the same book that they would quietly devour, study and apply in secrecy.

This book teaches statecraft - how one can secure power through deceits, manipulations and plotting. Similar to Machiavellian's The Prince, the book seeks to exploit the dark side of men. All human beings, including myself of course, are such fascinating interesting creatures: we take delight in deceiving others and, even a greater extend, greater delight in deceiving ourselves. Like lust, we take gratification in them in secret, but never openly admitting.

This book distils from three thousand years of human history over the spread of several civilisations into 48 terse principles of statecraft without which it would have scattered in thousands of pages in twenty over languages. Well, I might have exaggerated. Still, this is a good read for those who want a good introduction to statecraft. Such principles can be readily applied to our daily lives. Even if one disdains the usage of ruthless principles, he will be a fool not to know anything about them.

The quest for power and domination has always been the preoccupation of men since the birth of civilisation when human beings realised they could increase their chances of survival through cooperative efforts. In a cooperative society where every one specialises in a certain task, some people enjoy more privileges than the others. Of course, this invites envies from other men; hence the struggle began. A stage has reached where life is longer merely to survive but to survive better than and outlast everyone else.

The earliest recorded history on statecraft came from China. It was during the period of Warring States, an upheaval period where each warlord sought to reign supremacy. Chinese philosophers had elevated the theory of statecraft to an unprecedented sophistication. There were several schools of thoughts, each vying for attention from rulers. One of the most successful school of statecraft belonged called legalism. Legalists believe human nature is basically corrupt, by flattery or wealth as well as easily coerced by fear of punishment and death. Rewards and punishments should be used to serve the purpose of statecraft and nothing else. For the first thing in the Chinese history, inanimate entity like legislation was created to govern the lives of millions. And it worked perfectly.

Moreover, the statecraft offered a set of principles which rulers should adhere in order to strengthen their power.

Not surprising, these same principles are equally relevant today as they were first evolved then, given the struggle for power has never ceased. Are these principles evil? I see them as - not moral or immoral, but amoral - a tool that can use for either good or evil. Human beings may continue debate the merits of such knowledge. They will never doubt its relevancy and importance in the perennial affairs of human beings.

Leo Kee Chye

Saturday, September 27, 2003