Mussolini

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Mussolini

• Italian Fascism

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Origins of Fascism

• Unlike Marxism, Fascism as a form of political
  action before theories were devised to justify or
  define it
• Peace of 1919 left Italy feeling slighted
• Alternative reality of the Bolshevik Revolution
  frightened the Bourgeoisie
• Parliamentary systems were ill-equipped to deal
  with economic and social troubles
• The war left unemployed, brutalized soldiers
• Nationalism fascism firmly rooted in historical
  problems of each individual country (not uniform)

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Italian Parliamentary Failures

• Transformism and political corruption (from
  1881-1911)
• Parceling out of power and jobbery
• Social and economic problems
• North/South Divide
• Peasant risings
• Illiteracy (80 of Sicilians in 1900)
• Growth of socialism (beginning with
  industrialization of the 1880s-1890s)
• Opposition of the Catholic Church to
  Parliamentary system
• Resurgence of the Italian nationalist party
  (Risorgimento)

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Italian Fascism Begins

• 1919 formation of Fascio combat group and
  movement
• Originally a left-wing movement for a
  decentralized government
• Mussolini viewed fascism not as a system of
  beliefs, but as a path to political power
• After failing in the 1919 elections, fascist
  policy began to move to the right

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Italian Fascism in the 1920s

• Stressed nationalism and anti-Bolshevism
• Gained support of big business through
  anti-communist violence and rhetoric
• Attracted peasants and urban workers as an
  alternative to capitalism and socialism
• 1921, fascists win 35 parliamentary seats

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1922

• Squadristi protect Italy from Communism by
  violently shutting down a general strike
• 27 October Mussolini leads a march on Rome
• King Victor Emmanuel III, rather than declare
  martial law, makes Mussolini Prime Minister
• Mussolini appeals to Italians as the one who can
  bring control and defeat anarchy

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Growth of the Single-Party State

• Squadristi Black Shirts are made official
  Volunteer Militia for National Security
• Election law of 1923 made it easier for fascists
  to take a majority in parliament
• Election law of 1928 decreed parliament should be
  determined by Fascist Grand Council (headed by
  Mussolini)
• Murder of Socialist leader Matteotti
• Socialists leave parliament in protest
• 1925, house searches, newspaper closures,
  harassment of political opposition, attacks upon
  associations, etc.
• 1926, ban of political parties and formation of
  secret police

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Forms of Fascism in Italy

• The Corporative State (1199 / 1117)
• Battle for Grain (1200 / 1118)
• Also Battle for Land in 1930s
• Increase in electricity and car production to
  achieve autarky
• Battle for Birth (1118-19 / 1200-01)
• Military Spending (1200 / 1118)
• Spanish Civil War (1228 / 1145)
• Foreign Policy (1218-1221 / 1137-1140)