Italian fascism

• 1. Origins And Ideology

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  In 1915, Benito Mussolini founded the Fasces of Revolutionary Action in Italy. This group emerged from a synthesis of ultranationalism and national syndicalism during a time of intense social unrest. The term fascism derives from the Italian word fascio, meaning bundle of sticks. Ancient Roman fasces symbolized strength through unity because a single rod breaks easily while a bundle resists breaking. Giovanni Gentile developed the philosophical foundations for this movement as an actual idealist philosopher influenced by Hegel and Plato. Gentile wrote The Doctrine of Fascion published under Mussolini's name in 1932. He defined fascism as a religious conception of life forming a spiritual community against bourgeois materialism. The slogan Credere Obbedire Combattere translated to Believe Obey Fight reflected the importance of political faith within the ideology. Mussolini claimed that democracy was beautiful in theory but a fallacy in practice. He spoke of celebrating the burial of what he called the putrid corpse of liberty. Early fascist thinkers like Enrico Corradini championed proletarian nationalism writing about Italy in 1910 stating We are the proletarian people in respect to the rest of the world. Nationalism is our socialism. Mussolini later referred to fascist Italy during World War II as the proletarian nations rising up against plutocrats.

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• 2. Rise To Power

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  The March on Rome took place between October 27 and 31 in 1922. This coup d'état aimed to oust Prime Minister Luigi Facta and assume government control. King Victor Emmanuel III withdrew support from Facta on October 28 appointing Benito Mussolini as the sixth Prime Minister of Italy. Before this moment, armed Blackshirt squads had engaged in violent attacks against socialist and Catholic labor headquarters starting around late 1920. These squads used castor oil blackjacks and more lethal weapons during nightly expeditions. Socialist and Catholic organizers of farm hands in regions like Venezia Giulia Tuscany and Apulia were attacked by these groups. The Liberal Party initially thought they could neutralize Mussolini by making him head of a coalition government. However political instability continued with ephemeral prime ministries until the Fascist Party gained legitimacy. In 1924 Deputy Giacomo Matteotti formally accused the PNF of electoral fraud in Parliament on May 30. Five days later on June 10 Amerigo Dumini assassinated Matteotti. Dumini served only eleven months before being freed under amnesty from King Victor Emmanuel III. When the King supported Mussolini socialists quit Parliament leaving fascists to govern unopposed. By early 1922 popular support for fighting Bolshevism numbered some 250,000 people.

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• 3. Expansionist Foreign Policy

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  Fascist Italy claimed territories including Dalmatia Slovenia Albania Malta Corfu Corsica Nice Savoy Ticino Graubünden and parts of North Africa as its Fourth Shore. In January 1939 Italy annexed Libyan territories Tripoli Misurata Benghazi and Derna becoming integral parts of metropolitan Italy. Indigenous Libyans received Special Italian Citizenship requiring literacy in Italian language valid only within Libya. Tunisia seized by France in 1881 held the highest concentration of Italians in North Africa viewed as an injury to national honor. Upon entering World War II Italy declared intentions to seize Tunisia and Constantine province from France. The fascist regime also desired Portugal's colonies due to perceived mismanagement by Lisbon authorities. In Ethiopia after the Second Italo-Ethiopian War strict racial segregation occurred between white people and black people. Deaths reached one-tenth of Libya's population during the fascist era involving gassings concentration camps starvation and disease. By 1938 a quarter million Ethiopians had died following the war. Mussolini claimed Ionian Islands belonged to Venetian Republic from mid-14th until late 18th century justifying their inclusion. He argued Romansch was an Italian dialect thus Graubünden should be incorporated into Italy. In November 1938 Mussolini declared to Grand Fascist Council We shall bring our border to Gotthard Pass.

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• 4. Economic Corporatism

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  Italian fascism promoted a corporatist economic system linking employer and employee syndicates together in associations representing nation's economic producers. State permission required for almost any business activity such as expanding factories merging businesses or firing employees. All wages set by government with minimum wage imposed across Italy. Strikes criminalized as illegal acts prejudicial to national community. In 1926 Pact of Vidoni Palace organized business and labor into twelve separate associations outlawing others. Pricing production distribution practices controlled by employer associations rather than individual firms. Labor syndicates negotiated collective contracts binding all firms within sectors. Enforcement difficult due to large bureaucracy delaying dispute resolutions. After 1929 massive public works programs countered Great Depression including draining Pontine Marshes hydroelectricity development railway improvement rearmament. Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale established in 1933 subsidized failing companies controlling important portions via state-linked enterprises like Alfa Romeo. By 1939 fascist Italy attained highest rate of state ownership globally second only Soviet Union. State controlled over four-fifths shipping shipbuilding three-quarters pig iron nearly half steel production. Mussolini boasted Three-fourths Italian economy industrial agricultural hands state. Gross National Product increased two percent automobile production rose especially Fiat motor company aeronautical industry developing.

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• 5. Social Engineering And Racism

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  In 1938 the Manifesto of Race published July 14 paved way for enactment of Racial Laws enforcing discrimination persecution against Italian Jews. Leading party members Dino Grandi Italo Balbo reportedly opposed these laws with Balbo regarding antisemitism having nothing to do with fascism. Before 1938 Mussolini denied any antisemitism stating There was no Jewish Question in Italy could not be one healthy system government. He described antisemitism as German vice during conversation Emil Ludwig 1932. Yet by 1938 he actively supported racist policies endorsing Manifesto seventh point stating time Italians proclaim openly racist though entirely political reasons deference Nazi wishes. After Second Italo-Ethiopian War strict racial segregation implemented between white people black people Ethiopia. Deaths reached quarter million Ethiopians died by 1938 following war. Fascist regime also persecuted linguistic minorities including Greeks Dodecanese Northern Epirus under occupation. Mandatory Italianization abolished teaching minority German Slavic languages schools shut down newspapers geographical family names Italianized resulting significant violence South Slavs resisting Italianization. Age gender roles emphasized youth critical moral development affecting society. Political anthem Giovinezza identified physical age period youth critical time moral development. Policies reduced female workplace participation encouraging large families subsidies second child proportionally increased third fourth fifth sixth child. Mussolini declared employment women major aspect thorny problem unemployment incompatible childbearing solution exodus women workforce.

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• 6. Church-State Relations

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  February 1929 Mussolini concluded unresolved Church State conflict Roman Question Lateran Treaty establishing Vatican City microstate Rome. Papacy recognized state Italy exchange diplomatic recognition Vatican City introducing religious education all state funded schools shifting fifty million pounds sterling Swiss company Profima SA. British wartime records confirmed Profima SA Vatican's company accused World War II engaging activities contrary Allied interests. Cambridge historian John F Pollard wrote financial settlement ensured papacy never poor again creating £500m international portfolio featuring real estate UK France Switzerland. Not long after treaty signed Mussolini almost excommunicated over determination prevent Vatican control education. Pope protested pagan worship state imposition exclusive oath obedience obligating everyone uphold fascism. Originally declaring religion species mental disease Mussolini wanted appearance greatly favored Pope simultaneously subordinate no one. His widow attested 1974 book husband basically irreligious later years life. Fascist justification adoption antisemitic laws 1938 claimed fulfilling Christian religious mandate Catholic Church initiated Pope Innocent III Fourth Lateran Council 1215 issuing strict regulation Jewish life Christian lands prohibiting public office giving power Christians requiring distinctive clothing distinguish from Christians.

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• 7. Global Influence And Legacy

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  Fascist government model influenced many political scientists philosophers seeking ideological inspiration during twenty-one-year interbellum period. Winston Churchill Sigmund Freud George Bernard Shaw Thomas Edison praised establishment law order combating organized crime Sicilian Mafia. Adolf Hitler Nazi Party copied Italian fascist movement Russian Fascist Organization Romanian National Fascist Movement Dutch fascists based Verbond van Actualisten journal H A Sinclair de Rochemont Alfred Haighton. Sammarinese Fascist Party established early fascist government San Marino politico-philosophic basis essentially Italian fascism. Milan Stojadinović Yugoslav Radical Union Yugoslavia wore green shirts Šajkača caps used Roman salute adopted title Vodja meaning Duce Führer. Switzerland hosted International Centre Fascist Studies CINEF 1934 congress Action Committee Universality Rome CAUR. Colonel Arthur Fonjallaz National Front ardent Mussolini admirer visiting Italy 1932 advocated Italian annexation receiving fascist foreign aid. Ernesto Giménez Caballero writer Genio España 1932 called Italian annexation Spain led Mussolini presiding international Latin Catholic empire progressed Falangism discarding Spanish annexation Italy. Post-war Italian Social Movement MSI later neo-fascist organizations traced roots back to original ideology developed Giovanni Gentile Benito Mussolini.

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