In 1513, an Italian politician named Niccolo Machiavelli distributed, albeit privately, a political treatise entitled The Prince. This treatise was essentially a guide on how to govern one's country effectively. It is important first to define exactly what a Machiavellian is, before describing one. A Machiavellian is a leader who, through his power and influence, works for the common good of his people. This can be done through fear, through deception, or even through manipulation. It is important to understand the main principle of a Machiavellian; the end justifies the means. The end being the common good of his people. Vladimir Putin is Machiavellian in the way he retains power, institutes reforms and implements economic recovery at the national level; and also in the way he handles international affairs, such as the problems with Syria, Snowden and the 2014 Winter Olympics. It is important to capture his past. A rich and influential person will necessarily be raised differently depending on their origin. But growing up without these things, would there be any reason to assume that once they have this power, they will be more likely to maintain it? With humble beginnings, as Vladimir himself said in his autobiography, Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin was born on October 7, 1952, in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Raised by his mother Maria, who was a factory worker, and his father Vladimir, who was a conscript. Putin was determined to join the KGB, the Committee for State Security. In his autobiography he said that he was "a pure and completely successful product of Soviet patriotic education". But he also says that most of this "notion of the KGB came from romantic spy stories." In short, he never knew what he was getting into. To be continued...... middle of paper...... Russia versus the EU? (Video)." The Christian Science Monitor. The Christian Science Monitor, November 21, 2013. Web. November 22, 2013. .Rutland, Peter Rutland. "Snowden tests Putin's Machiavellianism." The Moscow Times. The Moscow Times, August 19 2013. Web. November 19, 2013. .Bradley, William. “Putin Schools Obama: From Russia with Love.” TheHuffingtonPost.com, September 6, 2013. “Olympics: Going for Gold, Spending in the Red.” , November 10, 2013. Web November 17.. 2013. .