Fascism

Fascism

To understand fascism it is important to understand that they were latecomers on the scene at a time when other political party’s already formed. This helped Benito Mussolini and the fascist to establish the anti-character of its ideology and appeal into what became known as the fascist movement.

The term fascism comes from the Italian fascio derived from the Latin fasces, which referred to axe headed rods that symbolized the independent political authority of the Roman Republic. From the 1870’s the term fascio was used in Italy for the new radical social and political organizations, normally from the left. After World War I Fascio di Combattimento formed and two years later transformed into the radical new Fascist Party and a new “ism” was born.

There are many clashing definitions of fascism, but there are a number of common characteristics that can be incorporated into a general formalization of fascism. Some of these common characteristics would be its anti-aspects, it’s new appeal and distinctive style, it’s rhetoric and representation, and the chants, ceremonies and shirts that attracted so many young people. The initial groups of fascists had a large following made up of dissimilar elements. Many of them were men who have been active in other social parties, students and ex-military.

Benito Mussolini was the founder and leader of Italian Fascism. He was born in Predappio on July 29, 1883, the son a socialist blacksmith. He became a schoolteacher and a socialist journalist in Northern Italy. Mussolini was jailed for his opposition to Italy’s war in Libya and so after that became the editor of the Socialist party newspaper in Milan, The Avanti!. In 1914, when World War I began, Mussolini exposed it as “imperialist”, then reversed himself and called for Italy’s entry on the allied side. He was then dismissed from the socialist party and started his own newspaper in Milan, II Popolo d’Italia(The People of Italy), which later became his passageway into the Fascist movement.

After W.W.I the governments were weak. There was rising unemployment and this led to unrest in many cities, many people began to support the communist.. Mussolini promised to rebuild Italy and recreate the Roman Empire. He organized armed gangs, called the blackshirts, who dealt with criminals and troublemakers and they also broke up strikes. In some cities the fascists were a police force.

In October of 1992 Mussolini threatened to march on Rome if he was not appointed as prime minister.