The six best books about divided governments

David Runciman is a professor of politics at Cambridge University and the author of How Democracy Ends and other books. At the Guardian he tagged six books that explore political division – and why we need it. One title on the list:

Most modern politicians are familiar with Niccolò Machiavelli’s The Prince, still the go-to guide for political intrigue more than 500 years after it was written. But Machiavelli’s other great work, The Discourses, is where he spells out the particular perils of governing in the name of the people. Factionalism and in-fighting, he says, are the price we pay for the pursuit of national glory: someone will always think they can do it better than the person in charge. He also devotes a lengthy section to dissecting how political conspiracies work. Long story short: they are easy to start, but very hard to finish.

Read about the other entries on the list.

--Marshal Zeringue