Il Duce

Setting the Stage Recall that many governments in Europe were weak. Economic problems relating to WWI and the Global Depression crippled economies Many countries had MANY competing radical political parties. Many countries had very little experience with effective democratic government. Many countries looked to very firm rulers in order to restore order…

The Rise of Dictators Between 1919 & 1939: ALL major countries in Europe had adopted some form of dictatorial gov’t EXCEPTION: Great Britain France Mussolini speaking to the people

Totalitarian State Control all aspects of their citizen’s lives Used mass propaganda & communication Single leader/single party in control No individual freedoms No limits to gov’t power Citizens actively support state goals

What did totalitarian states think about individual freedoms? They did not allow individual freedoms b/c all of the people were subordinate to the state

Fascism’s Rise in Italy Fascism’s rise in Italy began in 1919 and grew from disappointment over not being awarded the port that Italy had hoped for in the Versailles Treaty. Italy’s economy was broken, and its government appeared helpless to deal with the country’s problems.

Fascism’s Rise in Italy Benito Mussolini was a newspaper editor and politician that had turned against Socialism and supported the war as he hoped it would make Italy great. In times when Italians wanted a strong, active leader, Mussolini promised just that. He formed a band of thugs called “Black Shirts” that fought Communists, Socialists, and others in the streets. This gives Mussolini the support of many people that are afraid of Communist radicals. It also allows Mussolini to create a fear of a “workers’ rebellion” or Communist rebellion among the middle class, aristocracy, and large business owners.

MUSSOLINI Fascism: Glorifies state above the individual Emphasized strong central gov’t Any opposition is suppressed

Fascism’s Rise in Italy In October, 1922, 30,000 Fascists marched into Rome to demand that the Italian King, Victor Emmanuel, step down. Once in power, Mussolini: 1. banned Democracy, 2. outlawed all political parties and unions, 3. used secret police to jail anti-fascists, 4. censored radio, print, and other information. Mussolini then collaborated with business owners to plan his new command economy from a more elite perspective.

Fascist Manifesto Published in 1919, the Fascist Manifesto was the initial political statement of the Italian fascist movement. It was largely a liberal document, calling for such reforms as voting for women and the 8-hour workday. Most of the liberal, democratic measures were abandoned as the fascists gained power under Mussolini. The manifesto called for a corporate state. Corporatism was seen as an alternative to both capitalism and socialism that avoided the evils of both economic systems. Under corporatism, the economy would be controlled not by the state OR the free market, but by elected councils representing each economic sector (labor, industry, agriculture, etc.). Corporatism was regarded with interest and enthusiasm by many western observers, especially as the Great Depression devastated the economies of the major western democracies but left Italy unscathed. It was not fully implemented in Italy, where economic control remained with large property owners and industrialists.

THE FASCIST STATE Controlled all mass media Fascist youth groups Fascist maintained tradition (i.e. family) Catholicism: “sole religion of the state” Police given unrestricted authority to arrest & jail anyone for political or non political crimes

AUTHORITARIAN STATES Austria, Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Yugoslavia GOAL: preserving existing social order Reasons for failure: little political experience multiple ethnic groups TOTALITARIAN STATES Italy, Germany, Russia (to be renamed USSR) GOAL: create a new mass society

SPAIN Post WWI: democratic gov’t 1936: Civil war began Republican army aided by the Soviet Union Franco’s army aided by Italy & Germany 1939: Franco establishes a dictatorship Picasso's Guernica

What is Fascism? The key to understanding Fascism is in its differences with Communism, however: Fascism is first a nationalist movement, whereas communism is international. Recall that communism was to be a global movement for workers EVERYWHERE. Fascism did not seek to eliminate social classes, and instead, felt that they all served a purpose. For example, a fascist might say “Poor people are poor because they should be, and we need ditch diggers, so it is good for everyone. Especially us.”

What is Fascism? Fascism has some similarities to Communism: Both are lead by a dictator that demands total power. Both involve a command economy with lots of government control. Both cause almost a total loss of personal freedom and violence and death are common in each. Both involve only one political party and little rights to participation.