Kautilya: Arthashastra

The Arthashastra is an Indian treatise on politics, economics, war, peace, and statecraft, attributed to Kautilya (also known as Chanakya). Ambitious and amoral, it has been compared to Machiavelli’s The Prince, as both view politics as a practical science advocating for espionage, secret police, and assassination. Both texts emphasize evaluating actions based on costs and benefits. According to the Arthashastra, a wise ruler must be ruthless, cunning, and free from sympathy, love, or delusions of virtue.