The Rise of Totalitarianism and Fascism in Interwar Europe

The Rise of Totalitarianism

During the 1920s and 1930s, several European countries replaced their democracies with totalitarian regimes.

Causes of the Rise of Totalitarianism

The rise of totalitarianism in postwar Europe is explained by the critical situation of the era, characterized by:

• The difficult recovery after a devastating war.
• The fear of a workers' revolution similar to the one that triumphed in Russia.
• The fear of the economic crisis that began in 1929.

These factors led to the erosion of the liberal system and widespread distrust, as it was blamed for the prevailing instability.

Fascist Totalitarianism

Fascist totalitarianism, notably in Italy and Germany, was supported by all social classes and functioned as a mass movement. These regimes implemented a centralized state organized around a single party. They were fundamentally opposed to liberal democracy, viewing its institutions as ineffective against the crisis, and were equally hostile toward socialism, communism, and the labor movement. To implement their policies, they utilized strategies of terror—often through paramilitary forces—and sought to attract and manipulate the masses.

Italian Fascism

In Italy, interwar social and political disorder, fueled by revolutionary activity, led to the collapse of the democratic system and the rise of Benito Mussolini. He established a fascist political system characterized by the following:

• Domestic Policy: Absolute power held by Mussolini and the Fascist Party. The Fascist Grand Council replaced Parliament.
• Foreign Policy: An ultranationalist ideology that was aggressive toward other nations.
• Economy: An autarkic system with heavy state intervention, where companies were controlled by the government, alongside public works projects and an increase in agricultural acreage.
• Society: Implementation of corporatism, which restricted labor rights and prohibited strikes.

Fascist forms of action included:

• Worshipping a charismatic leader who embodied the power of the nation.
• Establishing a social hierarchy divided by professional corporations.
• Glorifying militarism within civil society.
• Resorting to revenge and justifying war as a means to promote imperialist territorial expansion.
• Promoting intense nationalism, which ultimately devolved into racism.