Download Benito Mussolini

Fascism
Totalitarianism- a system of government that aimed to control
every aspect of a citizens life. These governments viewed individuals
as servants of the state and citizens were allowed few personal
freedoms.
Two Types of Totalitarianism- Communism and Fascism
Countries- Germany- Italy- Russia
A Definition of Fascism
Fascism is a political philosophy that advocates the glorification of the
state, a single party system with a strong ruler, and an aggressive form
of nationalism.
Totalitarianism means: Total control.
• Control over people’s lives
• Control over what they read
• Control over where they work
• Control over political process
• Control over businesses.
Nazism
Totalitarianism
Communism
Fascism
*These theories, specifically Communism and Fascism, are
completely different theories that are bitterly opposed; however
they exhibit the same behaviour
Communism vs. Fascism
• Both rely on dictatorial rule and a totalitarian
regime that maintains rigid control of the people
through force and censorship.
• Communism seeks international revolution and
appeals to workers. Fascism is nationalistic and
appeals to the middle class.
• Communism has no set classes while fascism
promises to preserve social classes and defend
the ownership of property.
• System oppose each other
The Fasces Symbol
Comes from the Latin
word fasces.
In ancient Rome, the
fasces were cylindrical
bundles of wooden rods,
tied tightly together
around an axe.
They symbolize unity and
power.
The
Characteristics
of Fascism
1. Ideology
A form of extreme right-wing ideology.
It celebrates the nation or the race as an organic
community transcending all other loyalties.
Powerful and continuing nationalism.
 Constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols,
songs, etc.
 Flags are seen everywhere.
2. Subordination to the State
Fascism seeks forcibly to subordinate ALL aspects
of society to its vision of organic community
[usually through a totalitarian state].
It uses organized violence to suppress opposition.
 Glorification of force.
 Accepts the tenets of Social Darwinism.
 Is anti-democratic.
3. Cult of State Worship
The individual had no significance except as a
member of the state.
The fascists were taught:
 Credere! [to believe]
 Obbedire! [to obey]
 Combattere! [to fight]
4. The Myth of Rebirth
The “phoenix rising up from the ashes.”
Emphasis on a national or racial rebirth after a
period of decline or destruction.
Calls for a “spiritual revolution” against signs of
moral decay [such as individualism and
materialism].
Seeks to purge “alien” forces and groups that
threaten the organic community.
5. Militarism
6. Identification of Enemies or Scapegoats as a Unifying Cause
The people are rallied into
a unifying patriotic frenzy
over the need to eliminate
a perceived common
threat or foe.
This foe could be racial,
ethnic, a religious
minority, liberals,
communists, etc.
7. Disdain for the Recognition of Human Rights
Because of the fear of enemies and the need for
security, the people are persuaded that human rights
can be ignored out of “need.”
People look the other way or even approve of
torture, summary executions, long incarcerations of
prisoners, assassinations, etc.
8. Religion & Government
Are Intertwined
Fascist governments tend to use the most common religion in
the nation as a tool to manipulate public opinion.
They meld religious rhetoric, symbolism, mythology, etc., into
their policies [appears to give a religious
imprimatur to
government
policies!]
9. Disdain for Intellectuals
& for the Arts
Open hostility to higher education and academia
is promoted.
Professors and other academics are censored or
arrested.
Free expression in the arts and letters is openly
attacked.
10. Rampant Cronyism & Corruption
What is Cronyism?
Fascist regimes are almost always governed by groups of
friends and associates who appoint each to government
positions.
This group uses governmental power and authority to
protect their friends from accountability.
National resources and even treasures can be appropriated
or even outright stolen by government leaders.
11. Fraudulent Elections
Sometimes elections are a complete sham.
Other times, elections are manipulated by smear
campaigns against or even assassination of opposition
candidates.
The use of legislation to control who can vote.
12. Controlled Mass Media
Why would they want to
Control the media?
What are some ways you think
They may have controlled it?
13. Labor Power is Suppressed; Corporate Power is Protected
Because the organizing power of labor is the only real
threat to a fascist government, labor unions are
suppressed or independent unions are eliminated.
What type of government favors the workers?
The industrial and business aristocracy of a fascist state
often are the ones who put the government leaders into
power.
 This creates a mutually beneficial business/government
relationship and power elite!
POST WAR ITALY
• Italia Irredenta – “unredeemed
Italy”
• Italian Nationalism
• Dissatisfied with the “spoils” of
war
• Victor Emmanuel III (19001946)
• Parliamentary Democracy
• Prime Minister
POST WAR ITALY
• Political Muddle – no
dominate political party
• Peasants seized land
• Industrial Strikes
• Lack of democratic
tradition
• Threat of Communism
Facism in Italy
• Facist Governments were anti-Democratic, AntiMarxist, anti-Parlimentary and frequently antiSemitic.
– Rejected Liberalism.
– Dictatorial
• Founded in Italy Benito Mussolini (1883-1945)
BENITO MUSSOLINI
•
•
•
•
1883-1945
Il Duce
Italian Dictator (1922-1945)
School teacher, journalist,
public speaker, political
agitator
The Rise of Mussolini
• Italian Fasci Di Combattimento, “Bands of Combat,”
founded in 1919 in Milan.
– Mostly Italian war veterans who rejected Versailles.
• Lead by Mussolini
– A former socialist
– Broke with socialists in 1914, in order to support joining the war
on the side of the Allies.
– Nationalism replaced socialism in his personal pantheon.
• Took advantage of postwar chaos.
Benito Mussolini
• 1922 Leads Black Shirt March
on Rome
• King Victor Emmanuel III
names Mussolini Prime Minister
• Gives Mussolini dictatorial
power for 1 year to bring nation
together - changes election laws,
dissolves other parties
• Became known as “Il Duce”.
• “All within the state,
nothing outside the state,
nothing against the state.”
• “Believe, obey, fight”
• “War is to man what
maternity is to a woman.
From a philosophical and
doctrinal viewpoint, I do
not believe in perpetual
peace.”
• What do you think of these quotes?
Fascist Italy
• Becomes one party state
• Mussolini controls opposition
• Claimed creation of more efficient society
“made the trains run on time”
• Lateran Accord - Settles dispute with Vatican pays Pope for land taken, exempts from taxes makes Catholicism official faith of Italy.
Italy: Fascism and the Economy
• Benito Mussolini attempted to nationalize the wheat industry – the
Great Depression affected Italy anyways
• corporatism – planned economy linked to the private ownership of
capital and to government arbitration of labor disputes
– industry first organized into syndicates – two groups would
negotiate labor settlements, one from labor and one from
management
– corporations – grouped together industries relating to a major area
of production
• production not increased, but bureaucracy and corruption
increase
• to support going to war, government requires citizens to buy
government bonds
Italian
Fascist
Propaganda
The Fascist Family
The Fascists encouraged the
development of large families.
Education
The first sentence pronounced by children at school
was Let us salute the flag in the Roman fashion;
hail to Italy; hail to Mussolini.
Textbooks emphasized:
 The glorious past of the ancient Romans.
 The limitations imposed upon the present
inhabitants by geography and the West.
 The imperial destiny that awaited Italy’s future
development.
Fascist Youth
Emphasis on Physical Fitness
• Why do you
think physical
fitness was so
important?