Chapter 17 Crisis of Democracy in the West

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Chapter 17 Crisis of Democracy in the West
Section 3 - Fascism in Italy
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• Setting the Scene
• I hated politics and politicians, said Italo
  Balbo. Like many Italian veterans of World War I,
  he had come home to a land of economic chaos and
  political corruption. Italy's constitutional
  government, he felt, "had betrayed the hopes of
  soldiers, reducing Italy to a shameful peace/'
  Disgusted and angry, Balbo rallied behind a
  fierce nationalist, Benito Mussolini. Mussolini's
  rise to power in the 1920s served as a model for
  ambitious strongmen elsewhere in Europe.

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I. Rise of Mussolini

• In 1919 Italian nationalists were outraged by the
  Paris peace treaties, and chaos broke out at home

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I. Rise of Mussolini

• Trade declined, taxes rose, WWI veterans faced
  unemployment - the government seemed powerless to
  end the crisis

King Victor Emmanuel III
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I. Rise of Mussolini

• Italian nationalist Benito Mussolini organized
  veterans and other discontented Italians into the
  Fascist party in 1919

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I. Rise of Mussolini

• Mussolinis supporters, the Black-shirts, used
  intimidation and terror to take control of the
  government

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I. Rise of Mussolini

• In 1922, the Fascists March on Rome" forced King
  Victor Emmanuel III to ask Mussolini to become
  prime minister

A picture of the March on Rome, after which
Mussolini was named Prime Minister of Italy
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II. Mussolini's Italy

• By 1925 Mussolini took the title II Duce, "The
  Leader," and Italy became a dictatorship ruled by
  terror, secret police and propaganda

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II. Mussolini's Italy

• Mussolini created a "corporate state" by taking
  control of the economy but keeping capitalism

Mussolini looks over city plans for a new town
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II. Mussolini's Italy

• To Fascists, the individual was unimportant
  people were bombarded with slogans glorifying the
  state and Mussolini

Above are examples of publications reflecting
Italian fascism.
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II. Mussolini's Italy

• Men were urged to be ruthless, selfless warriors
  for Italy and women were to "win the battle of
  motherhood"

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II. Mussolini's Italy

• Fascist youth groups taught children to obey
  strict military discipline and learn about the
  glories of ancient Rome

This photograph glorifies the martial spirit and
physical prowess of Italian youth. Note the line
of young men waiting calmly in turn to leap over
the wall of fixed bayonets
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III. What Is Fascism?

• The term Fascism describes any authoritarian
  government that is not communist

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III. What Is Fascism?

• Fascism was rooted in extreme nationalism that
  glorified action, violence, discipline, and blind
  loyalty to the state

Believe, Obey, Fight
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III. What Is Fascism?

• The Fascists were enemies of socialism,
  communism, and democracy

Mussolini and Hitler
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III. What Is Fascism?

• Fascists pursued aggressive expansion and Social
  Darwinism, glorifying warfare as a necessary and
  noble struggle for survival

Fascism tries to interfere with people thinking
for themselves. All it tolerates is obedience to
the leader, rallied by contrived emotions, and a
ready willingness to fight. These themes dominate
the above propaganda posters from Mussolini's time
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III. What Is Fascism?

• Mussolini built the first totalitarian state,
  which became a model for Stalin in the Soviet
  Union and Hitler in Germany

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III. What Is Fascism?

• All three governments shared some basic features
• (1) a single-party dictatorship
• (2) state control of the economy
• (3) use of police spies and terror to enforce the
  
• will of the state
• (4) strict censorship and government monopoly
  
• of the media
• (5) use of schools and the media to indoctrinate
• and mobilize citizens
• (6) unquestioning obedience to a single leader

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III. What Is Fascism?

• Fascism appealed to many Italians by promising a
  strong government and reviving national pride

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• Looking Ahead
• Three systems of government competed for
  influence in postwar Europe. Democracy endured in
  Britain and France but faced an uphill struggle
  in hard times. Communism emerged in Russia and
  won support elsewhere, but many people saw it as
  a dangerous threat.
• In Italy, fascism offered a different formula.
  Its chest-thumping calls for action, national
  unity, and dedication to the state ignited
  patriotic feeling. As the Great Depression
  spread, other nationsmost notably Germany
  looked to leaders who preached fascist ideology.