Fascism—Benito Mussolini Fascism . . . believes neither in the possibility nor the utility of perpetual peace. War alone brings up to its highest tension all human energy and puts the stamp of nobility upon the peoples who have courage to meet it. . . . ...Fascism [is] the complete opposite of…Marxian Socialism. . . ...Fascism denies, in democracy, the absurd conventional untruth of political equality . . .

. . .The foundation of Fascism is the conception of the State, its character, its duty, and its aim. Fascism conceives of the State as an absolute, in comparison with which all individuals or groups are relative, only to be conceived of in their relation to the State. ...The Fascist State organizes the nation, but . . . [the individual] is deprived of all useless and possibly harmful freedom, but retains what is essential; the deciding power in this question cannot be the individual, but the State alone....

...For Fascism, the growth of empire, that is to say the expansion of the nation, is an essential manifestation of vitality, and its opposite a sign of decadence. Peoples which are rising, or rising again after a period of decadence, are always imperialist; and renunciation is a sign of decay and of death. Fascism is the doctrine best adapted to represent the tendencies and the aspirations of a people, like the people of Italy, who are rising again after many centuries of abasement and foreign servitude. . . .

Fascism Who: Benito Mussolini (Italian dictator), Adolf Hitler (German Dictator) What: 1. Fascists don’t believe in peace (it is impossible and useless); war is good—it is noble and it energizes a nation 2. Fascism is the opposite of communism. 3. Political equality is a lie—not possible. 4. The only important thing is the State, not individuals. 5. Individual freedoms are harmful and useless. 6. The state must build itself into an empire, or it will suffer death and decay.

When: Between the World Wars Where: Italy, Germany Why: Major factor in the causes of WWII; result of political instability and economic problems during Great Depression

Totalitarianism Read pp. 440-443 and write an identification

Totalitarianism Who: Leaders who have total control over their countries (Joseph Stalin, Adolf Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Saddam Hussein, Kim Il Sung); leaders were often dynamic What: System in which government controls all aspects of life; Controls all parts of society—business, education, individuals, religion

Totalitarianism What: Erases line between government and society Used violence, terror, propaganda, censorship, technology to gain total control; Established a state of terror

Totalitarianism When: Several examples in 20th-21st centuries Where: Currently Cuba, Laos, Vietnam, North Korea; previously Germany, USSR, Afghanistan, Italy, Iraq

Totalitarianism Why: A main cause of WWII and modern wars; millions killed as a result of it (40 million in Germany and USSR alone)

Invasion of Sudetenland Sudetenland became part of Czechoslovakia after WWI Hitler wanted the territory and negotiated with the leaders of France and Britain. Mussolini supported Hitler. France and Britain were desperate to avoid war, so they let Hitler have what he wanted. This was called APPEASEMENT — giving in to avoid a fight.

Invasion of Ethiopia Haile Selassie was leader of Ethiopia. Selassie asked the League of Nations for help against Italy, which was attacking Ethiopia with poison gas and troops The League of Nations put economic sanctions against Italy—weak, had little effect. Italy quit the League of Nations in 1937

Invasion of Manchuria Japan invaded and took control of Manchuria, a Chinese province. The Japanese renamed it Manchukuo. The League of Nations condemned Japan’s aggression but took no action, because of the Kellogg Briand Pact (making war illegal). Japan withdrew from the League of Nations because of the condemnation.

League of Nations--FAILED The League was an international cooperative organization. Some countries, like Germany and the USSR, were at first excluded from membership. The United States, now the most powerful country in the world, was not a member. The League did not have the power to enforce its decisions. The Kellogg-Briand Pact made war illegal.

League of Nations--FAILED Major divisions existed among countries after World War I. Deep isolationism existed after WWI among the democracies.