Socio-Ethical Dimension of Machiavellianism in Nigerian Society

Abstract

Machiavellianism as a concept has drawn attentions of many scholars which brought about studies from different perspectives in scholarship. These include political, effectual and causal perspectives; however, little attention has been paid to its socio-ethical dimension in relation to the Nigerian society, which is our concern in this paper. The piece argues that the advancement of Machiavellian ideology in Nigeria politics is as a result of the manifestation of immorality in other aspects of national life of the country. Using Skinner's Environmentalism as the theoretical basis; the paper views Nigerian society as the favourable factor that encourages immoral exhibitions in the nation's politics. It discusses Machiavellianism as a concept, socioethical situation of Nigerian society, social manifestation of Machiavellian principles and the implication of such for Nigerian politics, while effort is made towards recommending ways to make Nigerian society a morally inclined one before the concluding remarks.