Mussolini’s Social Policies

What are Social Policies?

•Aspect of Social Engineering

•Produce Citizens w/Values consistent & automatic w/State

•Condition to Conform to Guidelines of State w/minimal supervision

What are Social Policies in Right-Wing State?

•Create or Recreate what is seen as a Golden Age

•Traditional Values in terms of status of men & women, family life, education policy, moral values, occupations, class structure and hierarchy

•Respect for Tradition & Authority, Nationalism, Racism & Suspicion of Liberal or Progressive Ideas

Mussolini’s Social Policies Aims

•Create Nation of Fascists•National Consciousness Priority over

Class, Regional or Group Identity•Proud Warriors Working Hard to

Improve Nation’s Strength•Devoted Followers of Il Duce, heroic

dictator

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth

“He [ideal Fascist youth] tempers all enthusiasm with iron discipline… despises fear; loves the hard life, and serves with faith, passion and happiness the cause of Fascism.”

—Fascist Party Secretary Starace, 1938

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth

“These are the duties of a Balilla [young Fascist]. To love, fear and pray to God. To love your parents as much as your country and your country as much as your parents. To love the victorious king who personifies our free and united country and the Duce who has made it stronger and greater. To feel love and gratitude for all those who have given their blood for Italy and for the Fascism which saved us. To obey your superiors enthusiastically, to fulfil your duties meticulously as a son, brother, a scholar and a comrade. To endeavor to grow up good, strong, industrious, polite and educated so as to be able to contribute to the prosperity and the greatness of the nation.”

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth

• Educationo Religion Compulsory (elementary

1923, secondary 1929)oTeachers Oath of Loyalty to RegimeoAttempt Break Class Barriers –

national man, Fascist Man or WomanoCult of MussolinioLess Control Higher in Education

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth

• Youth Movementso ONB or BalillaoSports: special emphasis to military

skillsoPropaganda Lectures, esp.

nationalismoParades & Saturday RalliesoSummer CampsoGirls—same plus calisthenics, sewing,

music recitals, handicrafts, child care, hygiene, flower arrangements

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth

• Summaryo Prioritized Youth to create Nation of

FascistsoTrained in Fascist Values—obedience,

love of Duce, nationalism & militarism

oNo Major Changes to EducationoTeachers Made to Swear Loyalty OathoMiddle-classes Increasing Concern

over Devaluing of Education

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth

• Summaryo Less Impact on Universities—some

dissent toleratedoChildren Encouraged to Join Youth

OrganizationsoONB provided Sport, Leisure &

Propaganda ProgramsoCatholic Boy Scouts Shut DownoMany youth absorbed Fascist Ideas;

Others Just Conformed; Increasing Resistance in Time

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women

• Employment:

• restrict opportunities for employment esp. ‘unnatural’ jobs (i.e. school teachers, office workers, professionals); 1933 limit to 10% of state jobs; 1938 10% extended to many private firms; did NOT challenge role in agriculture & accepted many worked in industry

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women

• Education:

• Training to stay at home

• Excluded from Prestigious Positions in Education

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women

• Personal Life:

• Appearance well rounded & sturdy instead of thin & elegant• Criticized cosmetics, high heels,

trousers, and “Negro & rhythmic dancing”• Mixed Concept of Sport• Battle for Births

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women

• Politics:

• Ambivalent at Best• 1925 given vote in local elections,

then ended those elections• Focus on Household• Served on Committees for female

issues, charity work• Encouraged to attend Rallies & Help

in Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Religion

• 1923: increased clerical salaries

• Religious Education Reinstituted in Elementary Schools

• Catholic Church too Ingrained in Italian Society

• Church Sympathetic to Anti-Communism of Mussolini

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Religion

• 1929 Lateran Pacts

o Lateran Treaty (political)orecognized Vatican City as a separate

stateo Pope recognized Rome as capital of

Italy

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Religion

• 1929 Lateran Pacts

o Concordat (Church-State relations)oCatholicism Sole Religion of Stateo State Veto Power over Church

AppointmentsoReligion Reintroduced into Secondary

EdoChurch Marriages Recognized by StateoChurch Controlled Divorce

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

• Vital Part of Fascist State• Cult of the Duce• Cult of Ancient Rome• Fascist Party Active Role• No Ministry of Popular Culture until 1937• Press, not Fascist owned, Conformed

(need to do so)• Radio & Film Important, but Remained

Mostly Entertainment• Use of Art & Architecture (diversity

tolerated)• Much Less Totalitarian than Germany or

USSR

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

• Messages:

oBelieve in Mussolini—Wise DuceoSupport Powerful Fascist StateoWork Hard as One, United NationoBecome Strong & WarlikeoHave Pride in ItalyoHeir to the Roman Empire

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda

Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda