Final answer:
Machiavelli's 'The Prince' focuses on the pragmatic side of power in ruling where realpolitik and effective power exercises are emphasized. 'The Discourses on Livy' presents Machiavelli’s republican government views, stressing civic virtue, social conflict benefits, and the necessary checks and balances for preventing power concentration.
Step-by-step explanation:
The main arguments in Machiavelli's The Prince revolve around the pragmatic approaches to ruling and the maintenance of power by a ruler. The Prince is noted for its emphasis on the use of realpolitik, ethics and morality subordinate to the practicalities of governing. Machiavelli suggests that, at times, a ruler must be able to commit acts that are not conventionally moral to maintain his state and exercise power effectively.
In The Discourses on Livy, Machiavelli reflects on the principles of republican government as exemplified in ancient Rome. There is a strong focus on the importance of civic virtue and patriotism, the social benefits of conflict between social groups, and the checks and balances that prevent any one individual or group from gaining too much power. This work outlines how a republic should maintain stability and freedom, with a particular emphasis on the value of a mixed constitution that incorporates monarchical, aristocratic, and democratic elements.