Fascism is such a unique form of government, and it needs the right conditions to form. Unfortunately, for many countries, and Italy specifically, fascism typically begins to grow after the previous political system failed. The political systems fail during or after the loss of a war, resulting in serious turmoil and corruption throughout the country, even with a powerful, charismatic leader trying to save the country. The Italian political system was extremely flawed because the ideals of fascism were lost as Benito Mussolini’s charisma and appeal took the forefront. The people thought they had power when they actually had no influence, the country was deeply divided politically and socially, and the people turned fascism into Mussolinism …show more content…
Northern Italy was urban and industrial, which made it easier for new ways of thinking to take hold and spread. After the economic recession in 1907, and after Giovanni Giolitti abandoned his initial socialist plans, there were tensions and contrasting ideas among the different regions of Italy. Giolitti changed his plans and began to ally with the bourgeoisie and the Catholic Church instead of the workers. This new system excluded citizens in the lower and middle classes, and they had nothing left to turn to other than unconventional ideas. They believed that they had to turn to “revolutionary means” in order to promote their political opinions. Even though the South had a very stable political system, the mezzadri began to want more from the political system after socialism was not enough, which then gave fascism the gateway it needed into the South. Because Giolitti changed with whom he was allied, he created a vacancy in the political sphere among various groups, not just the …show more content…
Fascism needed a war-torn country in distress in order to succeed. People cannot expect a form of government that thrives on devastation and violence to be suitable for their country and to have an honest leader. The instability left behind after the collapse of socialism at the end of World War I, left so many people unrepresented in Parliament. People of widely varying class status and geographic location all began to agree on the basic fascist ideals simply because it was not socialism. Mussolini never expected that many people to accept and support fascism, especially in the more rural and politically stable areas, but once the fascist support system was in place, Mussolini ignored exactly what fascism was based on, and led Italy as he pleased because the people supported him regardless of his
Ginsborg P (1990). ‘A History of Contemporary Italy: Society and Politics: 1943-1980’ Published by Penguin; Reprint edition (27 Sep 1990).
In conclusion, Fascism was successful after WWI because the people no longer had their sense of nationalism, did not have a stable economy, and overall felt defeated. Someone came along in Germany and Italy and promised the downtrodden that they would no longer feel this way, and that their country would again prosper. The people were susceptible to this because of how low they felt. They found the leaders they desperately hoped for and never for a second challenged their motives.
Multiple historians have touched on the change in government during Fascist Italy’s reign in World War II. In Italian Fascism: Its Origins and Development, Alexander De Grand clarifies the many promises Benito Mussolini fabricated for the Italian people in order to get them to join his cause such as the improvement on poverty with the rise of a new Roman Empire. De Grand also gives an opposite view, with some citizens seeing Fascism as a “model of efficiency.” In Melton S. Davis’ Who Defends Rome?, t...
Fascism is one of the great political ideology in the 20th century. It is a kind of authoritarian government that, according to Wikipedia, “considers the individual subordinate to the interests of the state, party or society as a whole.” Two of the most successful and to be in the vanguard of fascism government is Italian fascism – led by Benito Mussolini, and Nazi Germany – led by Adolf Hitler. Fascism in Italy and Germany, though in many regards very similar - have the same political ideologies, still have many aspects to them that make them different from each other. Before analysing the similarities and differences between the fascism that emerged in Italy and Germany since the very first of 20th century, it is better to discover - what is fascism.
To begin with, this is determined by Italy's weak and foreign expansion policy. In 1871, the long-torn apartness of Italy achieved unity, providing favorable conditions for the development of capitalism. But the reunification is completed from top to bottom, retaining a large number of feudal remnants, which seriously hindered the further development of the Italian economy, resulting in the backwardness of Italy, mainly in three aspects: First, backward agriculture, food production is extremely
militaristic government" (Webster's). March 23, 1919 marked the ascension of the Fascist party in Italy. For many, young Benito Mussolini was a symbol of law and order in a time of political and social turmoil. Mussolini's "Fasci di Combattimento", the re-organization of his Fascia group, was accepted and admired by all, especially those Italians longing for the end of unemployment, inflation, and the fear of a communist revolution. In Italy, many members of the government, as well as a few aspects of society, gained from Fascism. However, despite those who gained, more Italians suffered as a result of Fascist government.
Govind Thomas-Richardson M. White Pre/AP World History 16 November 2015 Communism vs. Fascism Communism and Fascism are often mistakenly used interchangeably. However, this is not the case. Although they are similar in authoritarian aspects, they are polar opposites on the economic scale (communism being on the left and fascism on the right). Communism is a system of social organization based on the unified ownership of all property in common with regard to the community or the state. Fascism, however, forcibly suppresses opposition and criticism, regimenting all industry, commerce, etc., and emphasizing an aggressive nationalism making it centered more heavily on the state rather than the individual.
The Success of Mussolini's Consolidation of His Fascist State from 1922-1930 Benito Mussolini was able to take power in Italy after the famous long march in Rome in 1922. He then consolidated his fascist state of Italy between 1922 and 1930. He accomplished through well-designed strategies. Getting fascists into important positions Mussolini used changes in the law to strengthen his grip on Government in Italy. The elected council of Rome was abolished.
Fascism is defined as, “an authoritarian and nationalistic right-wing system of government and social organization.” Peter Hyland reports that throughout the 1920s and the 1930s, an economic depression was growing and becoming widespread throughout the world. People were losing faith in their democracies and in capitalism. Leaders who gained power supported powerful militarism, nationalism, and initiated the return of an authoritarian rule. J.R. Oppenheimer says that the rise of fascism and totalitarianism in Europe and Russia instigated a “critical step on the path to war.” In 1922, Benito Mussolini held leadership in Italy, promising a proficient and militaristic nationalistic state. During his control as prime minister, he gained a large group of followers, banned the disparagement of government, and used extreme violence against his enemies within the parliament.
During the late 1800's Italy became one of the most overcrowded countries in Europe. Many Italians began to consider the possibility of leaving Italy to escape the new low wages and high taxes. For centuries the entire Italian peninsula was divided into quarreling states, with foreign powers often controlling several states. In this chaotic situation, the feudal system ruled above the economic system, leaving money only in the hands of a select few (Wikepedia.com, 2007).
The common view of fascism and communism in the United States is that they are evil systems and we cannot allow them to spread. This however is not the idea that nearly every legal country in the world shares unlike slavery which is nearly universally opposed in a legal sense. Slavery in the Greek world had a different meaning and tone in Greek civilization than what slavery means to the modern world. Therefor we cannot assume that the evil that many people see in communism and fascism equates to the evil that was Greek slavery.
Although the Fascist state in Italy founded by Benito Mussolini has totalitarian qualities, it is not necessarily a totalitarian government. The government in which Mussolini helped established was relatively dissimilar to the totalitarian model. Where the difference lies is within the premise regarding the idea of the State, which is a centralized district in which its populous is completely subservient. Fascist Italy was different to the fascist principle in creating the principle of a religion state, where the people practically worship the government by implementing a totalitarian type by giving complete control to the dictator, Benito Mussolini. Italian Fascism redefined itself by implementing a skewed version of totalitarianism that molded its society in a multitude of ways as opposed to other totalitarian mania of the era.
The North Italian states were better economically and politically than the Southern Italian states. This led to a less feeling of nationalism since the North and South were different and was one of the reasons why the early attempts in 1821, 1830 and 1848 for unification failed. A group called Carbonari was working towards unification of the Italian states. Carbonari meant the Charcoal Burners and it was a secret society. In early 19th century a Carbonari named Mazzini brought up the notion of “Young Italy”. He emphasized on the one Italian state. He soon becomes the famous Italian soldier. In 1833, Garibaldi meets Mazzini for the first time and enrolls for the Young Italy Movement. “Young Italy” movement was where Garibaldi rose up. Slowly the sense of an Italian state was coming up but still the states were lacking a leader who would lead the way to the
In response to the democratic backlash after World War I, in response to the Treaty of Versailles and the economic failure after the war, countries turned to a totalitarian, fascist government, regulating every facet of life of the people it ruled. Fascist Italy was no exception—over the years 1921-1943, Italy instituted a population policy, controlling it and causing it to rise. Italy’s population policy consisted of the regulation of family size, often exercising Mussolini’s bid for control in extreme manners. The reactions consisted of an economic counterpoint of family size, and disapproval of this new regime.
Mussolini came into power in 1922 and sought to make Fascism the only party in Italy, because he believed it was superior to all other parties. Both Mussolini and Hitler wanted to create a better economy for their countries, and had big plans to change the way their countries viewed things. Mussolini abolished democracy, and would not listen and shunned any ideas or citizens who opposed his political views. Although the men were quite similar in the ways they set goals for their countries, Hitler was extreme in his plans for future Germany. According to the lecture, Hitler’s plans were to make it known the Germans were the superior race, Jews and Gypsies were subhuman, Hitler promised to take back the land taken from the after the war, and Lebensraum. Both men had their countries became a part of the Axis powers, and along with Japan became Fascist nations. Mussolini’s rise to power came through his influence on the fascists people. According to the lecture it was fascists that marched to Rome in October 1922, and the people demanded that the king put Mussolini in charge of the government. It was through fear that Mussolini gained his power. Hitler on the other hand was