Niccolò Machiavelli has been called the "father of modern political science." In 1532, however, he published a book proposing an entirely undemocratic system of government in which the ruler has an obligation to remain in power at any cost. Apparently, Machiavelli wrote The Prince to gain influence with the Italian royal court of the time.

Machiavelli later published another book called Discourses on Livy. This book described ancient Greek and Roman society and explained many of the ideas behind modern citizens’ rights and obligations in a democratic republic. Because of his ideas about the interaction between society and economics, Machiavelli became another of the main influences on the framers of the U.S. Constitution and therefore the shape of American government.

The deeper messages in Machiavelli's writing, especially his later works, relate to the value of popular governments, republicanism, and attempts to protect personal liberty. Machiavelli had a very personal experience with abuses of authority outside of his fame as an author. In Florence, he organized a citizens' army to protect the city, which eventually led to a rebellion. As a result, Machiavelli was imprisoned and tortured by the powerful Medici family.