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