Understanding Fascism: Key Traits, Rise of Mussolini, and Italy After WWI

Traits of Fascism

Fascism emerged in Italy after the First World War and became the most prominent ideology in the interwar period. The anti-parliamentary and anti-fascist stance became the main dividing line between political parties and citizens. Key doctrinal principles that characterize fascism include:

Radical Nationalism

Fascism often embodies the nationalism of peoples defeated in a contest or defrauded for not achieving what they consider a right. This radical nationalism easily transitions into imperialism, land claims, and an aggressive, militaristic, and anti-liberal policy.

Anti-Parliamentarianism

Fascism encourages the submission of the individual and the denial of personal freedoms. Individuals are subordinate to the dictatorial state, and the government must be chosen by an elite. These ideas often lead to racism.

Distrust of Reason

Fascism distrusts reason and intellect, instead embracing the feelings and fanaticism of the people.

Leadership

The nation places its fate in the hands of a leader who gathers all powers. This leadership relies on the cult of personality, prohibiting propaganda and criticism.

Italy After the First World War

Italy was left disappointed by the Great War, as their hopes for territorial expansion were not satisfied. This disappointment was compounded by serious political, economic, and social issues. Successive governments proved incapable of solving the problems affecting the country. The economic situation was negative and led to protests by workers and unions. The social crisis escalated, and clashes between workers and police resulted in hundreds of deaths.

Benito Mussolini created the Blackshirts. His militants were very active in fighting with leftist social movements. This led employers and the government to believe that the Fascist squads could stop the labor movement and restore public order. In 1921, the Fascists became the National Fascist Party with an extremist political agenda that soon gained the political support of the middle classes.

Mussolini Gains Power

The force of the Fascist Party propelled Mussolini to power. He threatened to march on Rome, accusing the government of being unable to ensure order. Given this threat, the government resigned, and the monarch appointed Mussolini as Prime Minister, maintaining a facade of democratic legality. Mussolini then transformed the state into a dictatorship.

He obtained full powers from parliament with a Fascist-conservative cabinet. In the 1924 elections, he won 65% of the vote. Political parties were abolished, and the press was censored. The Fascist government controlled agencies, and propaganda and Fascist ideals were introduced into education. Non-conforming youth suffered persecution.

Mussolini sought legitimacy through effective management, pursuing a policy of large-scale public works such as highways, big buildings, and city construction. He also promoted protectionist measures for industry against foreign competition and fostered autonomous development and domestic production. Fascism introduced social measures such as social security and vacations. The Lateran Treaty with the Holy See was among the first Fascist successes. It recognized the sovereignty of the Pope at the Vatican, compensated the church financially, and recognized its prominent role in education. By the mid-thirties, the dictatorship was secured. Yet, Italy remained a backward country with limited economic development.