Final answer:
Niccolò Machiavelli's theory of political authority is grounded in fear and power, a form of political realism that differs from the divine right of kings or social contract theories that were prevalent in his time.
Step-by-step explanation:
Machiavelli's Basis of Political Authority
According to Niccolò Machiavelli, the basis of political authority is not divine right nor a social contract, but rather fear and power, an approach often described as political realism. Machiavelli contends that the maintenance of power by rulers on their ability to inspire fear and command respect, ensuring their authority and the stability of their rule. This deviates from the prevalent theories of his time, such as the Divine Right of Kings, which argued that monarchs derive their authority from a divine source, and are thus accountable only to God, not their subjects.
In contrast, other political thinkers, such as Thomas Hobbes, believed in the social contract theory, where the state's legitimacy comes from an implicit contract with its citizens. Monarchical authority from the divine right and the socially agreed upon governance through a contract are both different from Machiavelli's practical view that it is ultimately power and the strategic use of fear that underpins effective political leadership.