Envoy to New Worlds

I bought this book from a used bookstore because it was like $1 and because of the cover (can't upload it here, it's the Ace paperback edition and it's glorious). "RETIEF—THE GALACTIC MACHIAVELLI!"

so the main character, Retief, is this minor space bureaucrat, only instead of sticking to galactic protocol like some sort of beta cuck, he uses his big brain and manly, manly physique to navigate complex diplomatic situations, which often involves action-cool hand-to-hand combat and random women offering to sleep with him.

also in the last section of the book, "Palace Revolution", there's a "People's Anti-Fascist Freedom League", who, of course, turn out to Not Actually Represent the People.

yeah the politics of this book are frankly terrible, but it was over the top and goofy enough to be entertaining at least.