The Fascists’ social and economic policies up to 1939 significantly aided their control over Italy yet may not be cited as the sole cause. The Fascist party’s social and economic policies along with other factors attributed to the overall control of Italy. Through such policies it was a certainty that the Fascist party would hold complete power over the population of Italy in each aspect of an individual’s life whether it was their leisure time through the Dopolavoro or at work under the corporate state system which was formally introduced in 1934. This complete domination of the Italian peoples’ lives could be argued to have been the instrumental factor behind the Fascists’ control over Italy up to 1939. Other factors which assisted the Fascists’ control of Italy include censorship of anti-Fascist ideologies and criticisms of the party, the secret police OVRA, political reforms and Mussolini’s personality. The censorship and intimidation of those opposed to the Fascist regime meant that the majority were too scared to speak out against the government and the press were heavily censored also, ensuring that only a positive image of the Fascists was conveyed. OVRA, the secret police, terrified the population of Italy and this enforced the idea that criticism would not be tolerated and severe punishments would be administered if opposition was discovered. The reform of the electoral system in July 1923 meant that to gain 2/3 of the seats in the Chamber of Deputies, a party only had to receive 25% of the votes. This system almost guaranteed the Fascist party the majority of the seats and therefore ultimate control over Italy. Mussolini’s personality could be argued to be an important reason behind the Fascists’ control over Italy; he ...
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...of the Fascist regime” (Tobias Asbe, The Fascism Reader pg 395). The Dopolavoro was greatly appreciated as leisure activities and holidays were available to all employed people of Italy due to the organisation. Although not heavily Fascist, this organisation was simply another way for the Fascist government to regulate the lives of the Italian people and therefore it could be argued that control of the employed up to 1939 was achieved through the Dopolavoro and so, this organisation was of high relevance to Fascist control.
The Fascists’ control of Italy up to 1939 could also be attributed to their economic policies. After World War I Italy was plagued with severe economic issues; all war-related industry ceased causing mass unemployment and trade union memberships soared meaning strikes were commonplace
Works Cited
Tobias Asbe, The Fascism Reader pg 395
Mussolini’s population policy was a clear effort to exercise his authoritarian control over the people of Italy, regulating the most personal and private details of their lives. In his bid for complete control, he used new laws, propaganda, and sometimes brutal tactics in order for his wishes to be recognized. It is during the 1920’s to the 1940’s that totalitarian control over the state escalated into full dictatorships, with the wills of the people being manipulated into a set of beliefs that would promote the fascist state and “doctrines.”
Ginsborg P (1990). ‘A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics: 1943-1980’ Published by Penguin; Reprint edition (27 Sep 1990).
To understand why Fascism gained such popularity after WWI, it is essential to find a working definition of what Fascism actually is. According to Benito Mussolini and his document What is Fascism, Fascism is “the conception of the state, its character, its duty, and its aim.” It is concerned primarily and totally with the affairs of state rather than those of the individual. The chief duty of a man in a Fascist nation is to do what he can to elevate the state to higher power or assist the state in whatever means necessary in its goals. As is evident to anyone studying this period in history, Fascism “repudiates the doctrine of Pacifism…” meaning that it is most certainly not afraid to use force or war to accomplish its objectives. A Fascist, especially a male Fascist, aspires to be a hero to his country and an ally to the state or nation of which he is a part. A woman ...
Italy achieved her unification in 1870. She had a constitutional monarchy like that of Great Britain, but democratic society failed to develop in Italy because the government was controlled by corrupt politicians, called the party bosses. They controlled the elections by bribing the voters. Once they were in power, they were more interested in achieving personal gains for themselves than in solving the social and economic problems of the people. As a result of this political corruption, Italy remained a poor country. Industrial progress was slow. Italy was poor in natural resources and lack of fertile land. Many of the farm laborers were landless and were often unemployed, so millions of Italians were forced to emigrate.
Fascism is one of the great political ideology in the 20th century. It is a kind of authoritarian government that, according to Wikipedia, “considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state, party or society as a whole.” Two of the most successful and to be in the vanguard of fascism government is Italian fascism – led by Benito Mussolini, and Nazi Germany – led by Adolf Hitler. Fascism in Italy and Germany, though in many regards very similar - have the same political ideologies, still have many aspects to them that make them different from each other.
Fascism is defined as, “an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.” Peter Hyland reports that throughout the 1920s and the 1930s, an economic depression was growing and becoming widespread throughout the world. People were losing faith in their democracies and in capitalism. Leaders who gained power supported powerful militarism, nationalism, and initiated the return of an authoritarian rule. J.R. Oppenheimer says that the rise of fascism and totalitarianism in Europe and Russia instigated a “critical step on the path to war.” In 1922, Benito Mussolini held leadership in Italy, promising a proficient and militaristic nationalistic state. During his control as prime minister, he gained a large group of followers, banned the disparagement of government, and used extreme violence against his enemies within the parliament.
“For us fascists, the State is not merely a guardian…nor is it an organization with purely material aims…nor is it a purely political creation, divorced from all contact with the complex material reality which makes up the life of the individual and life of the people as a whole.
In Italy, Mussolini’s Fascist regime may be attributed to the significant role football played in government manipulation and intervention towards its citizens. As football was known as “the sport for the masses”, its rise in popularity was the perfect opportunity for the Italian government to gain the nation’s public support. This scheme resulted to Mussolini’s relentlessness in terms of controlling certain aspects the sport had to go by, especially in the 1934 FIFA World Cup which was held in Italy. People believed that Mussolini orchestrated Italy’s victory to show the world their capabilities, and I quote Josef Bican, an Austrian player who played against Italy in the semi-finals, “Before we played Italy, Mussolini had a meeting… with the Swedish referee… and according to our coach, Hugo Meisl, he knew that the referee had been bribed… and would referee in favor of the Italians.” Its manifestation includes the influence football had not only on the Italian government, but towards the kind of system Mussolini wanted to impart to his people as well. With that, dominance on the field also meant power and superiority over other European nations such as France, Spain, and England. Thus, triumphant results did not only mean supremacy in race, but also in terms of governing principles and political structure.
The first source that will be evaluated in depth is the book How Fascism Ruled Women: Italy, 1922-1945. The origin of this document is valuable because the author, Victoria De Grazia, graduated from Columbia University where she received her Ph.D. in history with distinction in 1976. The book itself was published by the University of California which further strengthens the document due to the
"The manner in which Mussolini and the Fascist Party gained possession of the government was regarded in most foreign circles as an illegal act of violence." (3) As the nation of Italy began to suffer great debts, Mussolini had been summoned by the King to form a government to aid in the economic needs. This marked the birth of the Fascist Party in Italy. In the beginning of his rise to the top, Mussolini was popular amongst his people. His popularity was high, and people began to trust in his judgment and ideas. (4) He was, in essence, saving the people from the turmoil that had ensued the nat...
Mussolini, Benito. “The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism.” The Human Record . By Alfred J. Andrea and James H. Overfield. Vol. 2. New York: Houghton Mifflin, 2011. 2 vols. 399-400.
Between the first and second World Wars, the Fascist regime controlled the developments of pop music in Italy,
This change was instituted by the Nazi’s and their leader Hitler. Germany’s change to fascism was similar to Italy as it was done following ...
It is true that the Italian dictatorship was more conservative in its application than that of Hitler’s reign of terror. But, both the fascist ideas and rulings of these two leaders proved to have some similarities worth mentioning. Both leaders left their countries with an economic and social debt to the Allies, which is still strong in the minds of many older members of the community.
In the early years of the twentieth century, Italy has created a new system of government, however suffered social and economic conditions. Improvements were made however, poverty and literacy were still problems that have not been solved well. While entering World War I, the nation was neutral up until joining the British and French in exchange for certain advantages. However, it was unsuccessful as Italy failed to take control of the territories that it claimed at the Versailles Peace Conference,and suffered significant losses. The ideology of fascism occurred when the power of Italy was shrinking and the idea of being a pacifist became weak. Benito Mussolini created a group of fascists to represent a means to stop the socialists and the communists coming into his nation.