Final answer:
The term Machiavellian refers to a person who is strategic, cunning, and often morally flexible in their approach to politics or manipulation of others, prioritizing personal power and success.
Step-by-step explanation:
When people call someone Machiavellian, they usually mean that the person is cunning, strategic, and often unscrupulous in their political dealings or manipulation of others. The term is derived from the political philosophy of Niccolo Machiavelli, who in his work The Prince, described political power as a means to an end, suggesting that leaders may need to employ deceit and cunning to maintain authority and achieve their goals. Such an individual prioritizes their own interests and may use manipulation, deception, and exploitation to achieve power or control, often with little regard for morality or the welfare of others.
This concept is linked with the idea that such individuals are rational and strategic political actors, as they tend to make decisions based on maximizing their chances of obtaining their personal goals, potentially at the expense of others. The Machiavellian approach can be connected to historical perspectives on power, the will to power, and the nature of political strategy.