Fascist ItalyFascist Italy

Postwar ItalyPostwar Italy

World War I left Italy with little World War I left Italy with little national glory.national glory.

Economic problems plagued the Economic problems plagued the country.country. Huge national debtHuge national debt Runaway inflationRunaway inflation Massive unemploymentMassive unemployment

The Socialist Party appeared ready to The Socialist Party appeared ready to fill the political vacuum, but they fill the political vacuum, but they remained split.remained split.

Causes for Rise of FascismCauses for Rise of Fascism

In early 20th century, Italy was a liberal In early 20th century, Italy was a liberal state with civil rights and constitutional state with civil rights and constitutional monarchy.monarchy.

Versailles Treaty: Italian nationalists angry Versailles Treaty: Italian nationalists angry that Italy did not receive any Austrian or that Italy did not receive any Austrian or Ottoman territory, (Ottoman territory, (Italia IrredentaItalia Irredenta) or ) or Germany’s African colonies as promised.Germany’s African colonies as promised.

Depression in 1919 caused nationwide Depression in 1919 caused nationwide strikes and class tension.strikes and class tension.

Failure of strong leadership opened Failure of strong leadership opened opportunities.opportunities.

FascismFascism

Wealthy classes fearful of communist Wealthy classes fearful of communist revolution looked to strong anti-communist revolution looked to strong anti-communist leaderleader

By 1921 revolutionary socialists, By 1921 revolutionary socialists, conservatives and property owners were all conservatives and property owners were all opposed to liberal parliamentary opposed to liberal parliamentary government.government.

Fascism in Italy eventually a combination of Fascism in Italy eventually a combination of conservative authoritarianism and modern conservative authoritarianism and modern totalitarianism (although not as extreme as totalitarianism (although not as extreme as Russia or Germany)Russia or Germany)

Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini Benito MussoliniBenito Mussolini

(1883-1945) rises to (1883-1945) rises to power ("power ("Il Duce")Il Duce")

Editor of a socialist Editor of a socialist newspaper yet was a newspaper yet was a nationalist.nationalist.

Organized the Organized the Fascist partyFascist party

Initially, failed to Initially, failed to succeed because of succeed because of competition from competition from well-organized well-organized Socialists.Socialists.

Fascist MovementFascist Movement Combination of socialism and nationalism: Combination of socialism and nationalism:

territorial expansion, benefits for workers, territorial expansion, benefits for workers, and land reform for peasants.and land reform for peasants.

Named after Named after fascesfasces: the rods carried by : the rods carried by Imperial Roman officials as symbols of Imperial Roman officials as symbols of power.power.

1920, Mussolini gained support of 1920, Mussolini gained support of conservative classes and frightened middle conservative classes and frightened middle class for anti-Socialist rhetoric; abandoned class for anti-Socialist rhetoric; abandoned his socialist programs.his socialist programs.

BlackshirtsBlackshirts (squadristi): Paramilitary forces (squadristi): Paramilitary forces attacked Communists, socialists, and other attacked Communists, socialists, and other enemies of the fascist program (later, Hitler's enemies of the fascist program (later, Hitler's "Brown Shirts" followed this example)"Brown Shirts" followed this example)

Fascist MovementFascist Movement March on Rome,March on Rome, October 1922: October 1922:

led to Mussolini taking powerled to Mussolini taking power Mussolini demanded resignation Mussolini demanded resignation

of existing gov’t and his own of existing gov’t and his own appointment by the king.appointment by the king.

Large group of Fascists marched Large group of Fascists marched on Rome to threaten king to on Rome to threaten king to accept Mussolini's demands.accept Mussolini's demands.

Government collapsed; Mussolini Government collapsed; Mussolini received right to organize a new received right to organize a new cabinet (government).cabinet (government).

Victor Emmanuel III gave him Victor Emmanuel III gave him dictatorial powers for 1 year to dictatorial powers for 1 year to end nation’s social unrest.end nation’s social unrest.

The Corporate StateThe Corporate State Corporate State (syndicalist-corporate Corporate State (syndicalist-corporate

system)system) was the economic basis for Italian was the economic basis for Italian fascism.fascism.

““Everything in the state, nothing outside Everything in the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the state.”the state, nothing against the state.”

By 1928, all independent labor unions organized By 1928, all independent labor unions organized into government-controlled syndicatesinto government-controlled syndicates

Established organizations of workers and Established organizations of workers and employers and outlawed strikes and walkouts.employers and outlawed strikes and walkouts.

Created corporations which coordinated Created corporations which coordinated activities between worker-employer syndicates.activities between worker-employer syndicates.

Authority from the top, unlike socialist corporate Authority from the top, unlike socialist corporate states where workers made decisions.states where workers made decisions.

Fascist RuleFascist Rule

Right to vote severely limited.Right to vote severely limited. All candidates for Italian parliament selected All candidates for Italian parliament selected

by Fascist party.by Fascist party. Government ruled by decree.Government ruled by decree. Dedicated fascists put in control of schools.Dedicated fascists put in control of schools. Created fascist youth movement, labor Created fascist youth movement, labor

unions, and other fascist organizations: unions, and other fascist organizations: DopolavoroDopolavoro (After Work) and (After Work) and BalillaBalilla (Fascist (Fascist Youth Organization) failed to regulate leisure Youth Organization) failed to regulate leisure time.time.

Fascist RuleFascist Rule

Mussolini never became all-powerfulMussolini never became all-powerful Failed in attempt to “Fascistize” Italian Failed in attempt to “Fascistize” Italian

society by controlling leisure timesociety by controlling leisure time Old power structure of conservatives, Old power structure of conservatives,

military, and church remained intact.military, and church remained intact. Mussolini never attempted to purge Mussolini never attempted to purge

conservative classes.conservative classes. He propagandized and controlled labor He propagandized and controlled labor

but left big business to regulate itself.but left big business to regulate itself.

Fascist RuleFascist Rule

Did not establish ruthless Did not establish ruthless police state (only 23 police state (only 23 political prisoners political prisoners executed bet. 1926-1944)executed bet. 1926-1944)

Racial laws not passed Racial laws not passed until 1938 and savage until 1938 and savage persecution of Jews not persecution of Jews not until late in WWII when until late in WWII when Italy was under Nazi Italy was under Nazi control.control.

Women Under FascismWomen Under Fascism

Divorce abolished and women told to Divorce abolished and women told to stay home and procreate.stay home and procreate.

Decreed a special tax on bachelors in Decreed a special tax on bachelors in 1934.1934.

1938, women limited by law to a 1938, women limited by law to a maximum of 10% of better-paying maximum of 10% of better-paying jobs in industry & gov'tjobs in industry & gov't

Fascist AccomplishmentsFascist Accomplishments

Internal improvements made such as Internal improvements made such as electrification and road building.electrification and road building.

More efficient municipal governing.More efficient municipal governing. Suppression of the MafiaSuppression of the Mafia Improvement of the justice system Improvement of the justice system

(except for “enemies of the state”)(except for “enemies of the state”) Lateran PactLateran Pact, 1929, resulted in , 1929, resulted in

reconciliation with the papacyreconciliation with the papacy