The Reason of State

The Reason of State (Italian: Della Ragion di Stato) is a work of political philosophy by Italian Jesuit Giovanni Botero. Reason of state denotes a way of thinking about government that emerged at the end of the fifteenth century and remained prevalent until the eighteenth century. It refers to the right of rulers to act in ways that go against the dictates of both natural and positive law with the aim of acquiring, preserving, and augmenting the dominion of the state. It was first published in Venice in 1589, and is most notable for criticizing methods of statecraft associated with Niccolò Machiavelli and presenting economics as an aspect of politics.

For the political concept, see National interest.

Della ragion di stato libri dieci. Frontispiece to the first edition (Venezia: appresso i Gioliti) 1589