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
In response to the democratic backlash after World War I, in response to the Treaty of Versailles and the economic failure after the war, countries turned to a totalitarian, fascist government, regulating every facet of life of the people it ruled. Fascist Italy was no exception—over the years 1921-1943, Italy instituted a population policy, controlling it and causing it to rise. Italy’s population policy consisted of the regulation of family size, often exercising Mussolini’s bid for control in extreme manners. The reactions consisted of an economic counterpoint of family size, and disapproval of this new regime.
Ginsborg P (1990). ‘A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics: 1943-1980’ Published by Penguin; Reprint edition (27 Sep 1990).
The positive effects of Benito Mussolini’s reign in Italy benefitted the country greatly. By putting Cesare Mori in charge of eliminating the mafia, he caused 11,000 of Italy’s criminals to be arrested, which caused the country’s crime rates to plummet. The nearly absolute end of the mafia brought peace and order to Italy, which the country’s citizens desperately needed. He also defended his country’s interests by going against the allies for not giving Italy the land that was promised to them if they joined them in the first world war. Mussolini also upgraded infrastructure in Italy and improved the Italian economy.
In conclusion, Fascism was successful after WWI because the people no longer had their sense of nationalism, did not have a stable economy, and overall felt defeated. Someone came along in Germany and Italy and promised the downtrodden that they would no longer feel this way, and that their country would again prosper. The people were susceptible to this because of how low they felt. They found the leaders they desperately hoped for and never for a second challenged their motives.
Italian Economy 1924-1936 Mussolini had inherited an Italy with limited resources. The industrialisation of the north and modernisation of agriculture left the south behind with its mass poverty and lack of education. Mussolini believed in will power as a driving force in society. The battle for the lira, grain and marshes were used to mobilise the Italian people who struggled to achieve these targets.
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. Before analysing the similarities and differences between the fascism that emerged in Italy and Germany since the very first of 20th century, it is better to discover - what is fascism.
Liberals helped change election methods to favor Mussolini, winning the election of 1926 and assuming full dictatorship (Stohler and Schwartz 8). Each of their countries were left in different states post World War I. Italy, under Mussolini’s dictatorship, was in an economic depression. There was labor disorder throughout the country as well as a weakened government. They were left in national shame at Mussolini.
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.
“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.
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.
The failure of the Italian revolutions cannot be attributed to one reason as there are a plethora of reasons which could be cited as a main cause. The main reasons which could be argued as the most important reasons for the failure of the Italian revolts are the lack of organisation within revolutionary groups, the Austrian army’s strength, the political and military inexperience of those in power, the Pope’s abandonment of the revolution, the hesitation of Charles Albert to front the campaign of unity and Bonaparte’s intervention. In 1815 Italy was not recognised as a country, Metternich, an Austrian statesman, said "The word 'Italy' is a geographical expression, a description which is useful shorthand, but has none of the political significance the efforts of the revolutionary ideologues try to put on it” which shows that Italy was not considered a country this was because it was separated into different states and each had their own rulers. The system of government was mainly autocratic which meant that just one man was in charge of the entire state and so it would be true to say that Italy was not a democratic country. The French Revolution that began in 1789 meant that countries all over Europe were under the control of Napoleon Bonaparte, Italy included until the battle of Waterloo where Napoleon was defeated. All progress that had been made in the country was reversed with the Treaty of Versailles which meant that the autocratic kings were reinstated into Naples, Sardinia-Piedmont and Sicily and the duchies of Parma, Modena and Tuscany were given back to Austrian rule. The people of Italy had tasted a better life under Napoleon’s rule and wanted change, this led to the revolts.
“Fascism is a religion. The twentieth century will be known in history as the century of fascism” (Fascist). Those are the words of Benito Mussolini, an Italian journalist who started a political party of his own. Born in 1883, Mussolini became involved in socialist politics in Switzerland when he moved there in 1902 (BBC). Although he was active with the socialist party, Mussolini started publishing editorials that supported World War I, which he was drafted in himself in 1915 (Mussolini). This led to his expulsion from the socialist party. Ready for a major change, Mussolini gathered many nationalistic groups in Italy together and formed a single organization under his leadership (Mussolini). Rising to power in the wake of the Great War, Benito Mussolini was a violent, military-minded dictator who saw to the emergence of the National Fascist Party in Italy.
Unlike Marxism, Fascism does not believe that class conflict can bring about change, instead fascism believes that class conflict can hurt the integrity of a country. Fascism emerged in Italy in the 20th century to stop the rapidly growing workers movement which was pushing up wages and threatening revolution. Led by Mussolini, they were funded by various wealthy big businesses (the rich minority) in order to smash picket lines and attack left-wing organisers. Fascism was very attractive in its time as democracy was new in much of Europe and not very well established, many of the countries had been run by the monarchy; democracy appeared weak in comparison to a strong charismatic leader.
Exploring the Similarities and Differences Between the Foreign Policies of Mussolini and Hitler Similarities - Both foreign policies geared to achieving great power status o Hitler: lebensraum, wanted to have living space for the expansion of the German race and control over other groups o Mussolini: wanted control over Mara nostrum, Abyssinia, …an empire - fascist states o had anti communist feelings; o both signed anti comintern pact 1937 against USSR o Spanish civil war against communism helping Franco secure power o Signed pact of steel in may 1939, a full military alliance - unhappy with status quo, wanted international prestige o national grievances on Versailles, people wanted to change Versailles o Hitler, product of WW1 who was angry at Versailles and wanted to see Germany achieve great power status o Mussolini; felt that Italy had been treated unfairly at Versailles and also waned to change the status quo o Because of this both built up armies, navies and air forces.. Italian air force to block out the sun + German luftwaffe… - both Hitler and Mussolini, used diplomacy and force as well as aggression to get what they wanted o Mussolini over Greece where it undermined the LofN, used force to take Abyssinia 1935 o Hitler used the threat of force to take Austria and diplomacy as well as force to take Czech and Saarland in 193… - by 1939 both had a common enemy; Britain and France - both were aggressive nationalists and glorified warw - both wanted empires; abysinnia and lebenstraum to distract from problems at home.. Differences - Hitler was more clear in his aims and ideals whereas Mussolini was more vague and opportunistic o Although Hitler did take advantage of opportunities such as Abyssinia crises to remilitarise Rhineland he was more structured in his aims for Lebensraum, unification of all Germans, building up the army and recovering lost territories § Illustrated by Hitler’s success after success ; Rhineland in 36,
He controlled the workers harshly in response to restoring order in the country. To remain in mastery, he suspended people’s freedom, destroyed all that dared to oppose him, and made himself dictator of Italy. (qtd. in History 2) Mussolini had to use brutal force and cruelty to stabilize his towering power over Italy. Because he was nearly overthrown by his own people, he had to take extended measures to continue his leadership. His ability to utilize his power for his own protection portrays what Machiavelli said “when they can rely on themselves and use force, then they are rarely endangered” (pg 33). Ironclad with the blood of his people, Mussolini’s brutal actions were ideally similar to the advice of Machiavelli, which presented him immediate success. However, the success he fought for crumbled into nothings in his later