Benito Mussolini Research Paper

Mussolini had expressed the responsibilities of the state to the citizens was ‘’It is the State which educates its citizens in civic virtue, gives them a consciousness of their mission and welds them into unity’’[ Excerpts from Benito Mussolini: The doctrine of Fascism; paragraph 10 line 9: http://facweb.furman.edu/~bensonlloyd/hst11/mussolinidoctrines.htm]. in the following march on Rome in October 1922, shortly after he got appointed as Prime minister[ ‘’Mussolini and Fascist Italy’’ by Martin Blinkhorn page 27]. Mussolini quickly turned his attention to the weak Italian economy due to the destruction that world war 1 had caused, Mussolini knew that this was the area to address if Italy wanted to increase its potential for world dominance.

Many Fascists argued that the free enterprise policy of De Stefani, was neglecting the interest of the heavy industrial sector such as iron and steel armaments. Many said it was incompatible with the principles of Fascism, it endangers defence and national independence, because it allows the economy to be manipulated behind scenes[ ’Italian Fascism and Developmental Dictatorship ‘’- A. James Gregor page 146]. Fascist members stated: ‘’Mussolini cannot submit to the present situation; he must become the master of the keys of the national economy’’[ The seizure of power: Fascism in Italy, 1919-1929 by professor Adrian,Lyttelton page 278]. By the mid of 1925, Mussolini dismissed Alberto De Stefani, Replacing him with Giuseppe Volpi. The pact of Locarno, signed on the 1st of December 1925 in London to maintain mutual peace with Germany,France,Belgium, and by April 1926 Mussolini stated ‘’We are a state which controls all forces acting in nature. We control political forces, we control economic forces, and therefore we are a full-blown Corporate state’’[ The seizure of power: Fascism in Italy, 1919-1929 by professor Adrian,Lyttelton page 347]. Mussolini then began to take on the issues of the national currency and controlling the banks by

Mussolini understood that the strength of Italy will come from economical development and military, which made Mussolini focus on establishing self sufficiency in weaponry and food. The economical and industrial development through Mussolini and Alberto De Stefani’s economic policies allowed Mussolini to gain more allies and control them as the country gets more influence on an international scale. The Liberals describes this process through Perrone Memo, Corporation state would have total control over all aspects both socially and economically, Fascists deem dictatorship and total authoritarian control necessary for economic growth[ The seizure of power: Fascism in Italy, 1919-1929 by professor Adrian,Lyttelton page 335]. Since the upper class, proletariats are unable to put the country’s interest on number 1 priority instead of personal interest, which makes them a inferior candidate to rule the country as a whole. [ ‘’Italian Fascism and Developmental Dictatorship ‘’- A. James Gregor page 129