Fascism
Etruscans to Ancient Rome
Fasces, Latin
A single rod is easily broken, while the bundle is much stronger
Fascism vs. Communism
Mussolini
“Between us and the communists there are no political affinities but there are intellectual ones. Like you [communists], we consider necessary a centralized unitary state which imposes iron discipline and all persons, with this difference, that you reached this conclusion by way of the concept of class, and we by the way of the concept of nation.”
Fascist regimes have several common characteristics:
Fascists are ultra-nationalistic, often extolling the ethnic and physical superiority of the party in power.
A single, charismatic leader rises to power, embodying the ideals of the national culture.
Fascist regimes demand absolute national unity. The advancement of the state becomes the driving force in everyone’s lives.
Fascist regimes are masters of manipulation, especially through mass media.
Private economic goals are swept aside. Contempt for other forms of government, especially
communism, is characteristic of fascist regimes. Fascist regimes usually work toward military
expansion.
Choose whether the following best represents democracy, fascism or
communism.
Whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the
people to alter or abolish it...
In this sense the theory...may be summed up in the single
sentence: abolition of private property.
Calls for the creation of a militia with specifically response to
domestic opposition responsibilities.
Advocates sequestration of 85 percent of all war profits by the
state.
Confiscation of the property of all emigrants.
We hold the rest of mankind, enemies in war, in peace friend.
Armaments factories are to be nationalized for the growth of the
empire
Expropriation of the property of religious congregations – religion is allowed if it is tied to national
tradition
Let the ruling class tremble at our revolution. The revolutionaries have nothing to lose but their
chains. They have a world to win.
Conditions – Long-Term Italy
Constitutional Monarchy in 1861 1861-1922 Liberal Italy Fully unified in 1871
Long-Term Causes Lack of nationalism in Italy Politics were dominated by the upper
and middle classes Real Italy was peasantry and
small proletariat Inability to connect with the
masses Giolitti (PM) unable to expand
political participation Rift between Catholics and Italian
state Corruption in Liberal Italy General Strike of 1914
Rise of PSI (Socialist Party) World War I a failure
Conditions - Medium Intervention Crisis (1914-15)
Should Italy remain neutral in WWI
Had been allied with Germany and A-H
Interventionists Right-wing liberals, PM
Salandra, Nationalists, Socialists who had broken away from PSI (Mussolini)
Opposition Giolitti, PSI, Catholic
Church
Impact of the war Political and social divisions
widened, Disaffected soldiers, Economic dislocation, Inflation and shortages, Industrial unrest
Openings for Mussolini
Decline of the Liberals Advent of democracy
and mass politics, end to ‘transformismo’ Rise of the PPI, Catholic
Party and PSI in 1919 Three groups incapable
of cooperation
Mutilated Victory Did not get Fiume or
Dalmatia
Economic Crisis and Social Unrest Immigration to US
spikes
Biennio Rosso 1919-20
Red Years Social unrest Government had
promised land reforms during Caporetto
Trade unions grew Increase in militancy
Strikes in 19-20 Violence attributed to war
Why no revolution? Socialists disorganized Attacks by Fascist squads Limited government
cooperation
Rise of Mussolini Member of PSI in 1910
Expelled in 1914 for advocating intervention
Joined Italian army but left in 1917
War ends, creates new left-wing movement in 1919 Former PSI members,
militants, nationalists Fascist Unable to attract much
support
Rise of Mussolini 1919-1922 moves the
party to the right Attacked socialists,
Catholics, peasants Appealed to land classes Given support by the
Ras Fascist party bosses
Fascist program Privatization of industry Right to property
guaranteed Corporations to
represent all classes Militant nationalism
Mussolini Appointed Prime Minister in 1922
Fascists violent towards socialists in Bennio Rosso Government unable to
suppress them
Mussolini under pressure of from the Ras to create a dictatorship Also negotiating with
liberals and conservatives to become PM
March on Rome a bluff, maybe, mobilized 30,000 Fascists PM Luigi Facta asks King
Victor Emmanuel to declare martial law
Mussolini appointed PM in October 1922
Why did the Fascist movement grow so
quickly?Checkpoint activity.
Mussolini’s Goals Create a personal dictatorship
Develop the Italian, fascist consciousness Imparting militant nationalism
Improve the economy so that Italy was self-sufficient Privatization of industry Right to property guaranteed Corporations to represent all classes
Establish a new Roman empire and achieve national glory Notably after the failures of WWI and the Adowa Incident
1896
Establishment of Single-Party Rule
1922, had been multi-party state 1926, Fascists the only
party
Matteotti Crisis Giacomo Matteotti
attacked the Fascists in a speech
Killed two weeks later Little opposition
Consolidation of Power Wooed upper and middle classes
Merged with the Nationalist Party in 1923 Implemented balanced budget Cancelled land reform Banned strikes and independent unions Assertive foreign policy (Fiume) Concessions to Catholic Church
Control over the Chamber Arrested communists Broke the PPI as a political force Acerbo Law gave majority party two-thirds
of seats Violence and intimidation
Control over Party Fascist militia consolidated squads Creation Fascist Grand Council
Underestimation by liberals/conservatives Supported Acerbo Law hoping to get PSI in Walked out in response to Matteotti crisis
Steps Towards Single-Party
PSI banned Oct. 1925
Censorship
1926, power to issue decrees
1926, unions banned
1926, opposition parties banned
1926, powers of arrest increased
1926, secret police
1926, special tribunal for political offenses
1928, democratic electoral system abolished
Consolidation of Power Limited Party influence
Let the King stay, kept constitution
Civil service and police mostly careerists
PNF became more bureaucrats, rather than activists
Created personal dictatorship Not dependent on the
PNF All under Mussolini
Fascist Rule Established a Corporate
State Third way, compromise
between socialism and capitalism
1934, formally in pace 22 mixed
corporations, had to meet government demands, could do it in any way
Mussolini maintained support from capitalists
Economic Policy Strong ties to Italy’s
industrialists
Increase tariffs
Launch Battle for Grain Did increase output,
expense of other crops
Revalue the lira
Did little to address backwards agriculture
1928, Mussolini Law, limited land reform
Hit hard by depression
Economic Successes Infrastructure increased
Rescued banks during depression
Railways, hydro-power, GDP grew, growth in industrial sectors
Serious Failings Debt due to foreign
interventions Not economically self-
sufficient Small businesses lost out Not an industrial power Living standards fell
Landowners and industrialists the only ones to benefit
Mussolini and Society Lateran Treaty, 1929
Pope’s sovereignty over Vatican City
Catholicism state religion
Effective propaganda
Limited control of the arts
Battle for Births a failure
Anti-Semitic Laws (1938) Due to Hitler
Cult of Youth
Fascist indoctrination of schools
Foreign Policy Aggressive
Albania, Libya
Abyssinia War in Ethiopia
Intervention in Spanish Civil War
Rome-Berlin Axis of 1936 Pact of Steel 1939
WWII Comes in in 1940 when he feels the
war is over Italians a failure in Greece and Africa Lost support, Allies invade Sicily Ousted by the King, arrested Truce signed with Allies Germany invades, put back in power Allies took Italy Captured by Italians in 1945, executed