MUSSOLINI & FASCISM

MUSSOLINI & FASCISM

Italy developed fascist dictatorship under Benito Mussolini. Fascist party was founded by him in 1919. The local branches of the party were known as Fasci Italiani di Combattimento (Italian Combat Squad), consisting of 200 members. The word fascism is derived from the Latin word ‘fasces’ which means the bundle of rods with protruding axe in the middle. The following are the basic principles of fascism:-

i. Fascism put great emphasis on the idea of extreme nationalism. It was an emphasis on the rebirth of the nation after a period of decline and building up the greatness and prestige of the state.

ii. It believed in totalitarian form of government. It wanted to control and organize with strong discipline as many aspects of people’s lives as possible.

iii. It gave importance to one party state. Fascism was especially hostile to communism.

iv. Economic self-sufficiency was vitally important in developing the greatness of the state.

v. Military strength and violence were on integral part of the way of life.

Explain the main features of the Fascist state under Mussolini?

OR

Explain the main features of Mussolini’s domestic Policy?

Mussolini’s Domestics Policies

Mussolini, who was appointed as the Prime Minister of Italy in 1922, was very cautious in the beginning. There was no sudden change in the system of government and state institution. However, the king had given him special powers to last until the end of 1923 to deal with the crisis. The Acerbo law passed in November 1923 changed the rules of general elections. According to this law, the party which got highest votes in a general election would automatically be given two-third of the seats in the parliament. As a result in the elections i.e. held in April 1924 the fascist came out with 404 seats. This helped Mussolini to strengthen his hold in the government and society along fascist line.

Totalitarian state: Mussolini established a totalitarian state with himself as the leader. He controlled everything in the state including the fascist policy. He made the state supreme and destroyed the opposition completely. All parties except the fascist were suppressed. He made changes in the Italian constitution to make him self the supreme authority. The Prime Minister was responsible only to the king, not to parliament. The Prime Minister could rule by decree which meant i.e. new laws did not need to be discussed by parliament. The electorate was reduced. He adopted the title of Duce (the leader)

Change in local government: Mussolini also made changes in the local government elected town, councils and mayors were abolished and towns were run by officials appointed from Rome. In practice the local fascist party bosses often had as much power as the government officials. A strict censorship was enforced in which anti-fascist newspaper and magazines were banned. Radio, films and theatre were controlled very strictly by the state.

Education: another important state of the government was to control and supervise education and education institutions. Education in schools and universities was closely supervised. Teachers were forced to wear uniforms and new text books were written to glorify the fascist system. Children were encouraged to criticize teachers who seemed to lack enthusiasm for the party. Children and young people were forced to join youth organization.

Corporate state: the government promoted the idea of corporate state by encouraging co-operation between employees and workers. Fascist controlled unions had the role right to negotiate for the workers. Both unions and employers associations were expected to work together to settle disputes over pay and working condition. Strikes and lock lots were not allowed. To compensate for their loss of freedom, workers were assumed of benefits like free Sunday, annual holidays with pay, social securities and cheap labours.

(What benefit did fascism bring for the Italians?)

Economic policy: the fascist evolved out a new economic policy for the country. The big drive was for the self sufficiency, which was thought to be essential for a warrior nation. The government took up a programme of land reclamation to increase agricultural yield.

The battle for wheat encouraged farmers to concentrate on wheat production as a part of drive for self sufficiency .by 1935 whet import had been cut by 75 %.Industry with government subsidies where necessary. As a result production and iron and steel doubled by 1930. By 1937 production of hydro electric power had double. The government took up a programme of public works which included building of roads, bridges, school, railway stations etc. Mussolini balanced the budget and stabilized currency. The after work Dopolavoro (the Italian Fascist leisure and recreational organization) organisation provided the Italian people with things to in their leisure time.

Papacy: one of Mussolini’s outstanding achievements was the settlement of long standing dispute with the papacy. The conflict between the Catholic Church and the state which Mussolini described as a ‘thorn in the flesh of the nation’ began with the annexation of Rome by the ruling dynasty in 1870. Mussolini, who wanted to assure the support of the millions of Roman Catholics to the fascist state decided to settle this dispute. He signed a treaty Lantern Treaty in1929 with Pope Pius XI. By this treaty Italy recognized the Vatican City as the sovereign state, paid the Pope a large sum of money as compensation for all his losses accepted the Catholic faith on the official state religion and made religious instruction compulsory in all schools. In return the Papacy recognized the kingdom of Italy with Rome as its Capital. Thus under Mussolini Italy came to occupy a commanding position in Italy.