People keep calling Rodrigo Duterte Machiavellian. The label is wrong, and if Machiavelli could see it, he would probably object.

This episode breaks down what Machiavelli actually demands of a ruler — the fox and the lion, virtu and fortuna, fear without hatred, institutions that outlast the man — and measures Duterte against that standard. The result is not flattering to Duterte.

We also look at the 1998 psychological evaluation that described him as having antisocial narcissistic personality disorder, and what modern research says about leaders who fit that profile.

Machiavellian is not a synonym for cruel or ruthless. It is a specific framework. Duterte does not clear it.

Morning Coffee Thoughts. Stay curious, stay informed.