FASCIST ITALY: Origins and Rise of the Fascist Movement

Aims 1.Place fascism in its Italian context 2.Set out the origins of Mussolini’s rise to power: What did Mussolini do? What did others do/fail to do? 3.Explore the complexity of fascism as historical and political phenomenon 4.Critically address the ideological ambiguity of Italian fascism

Mussolini the Young Leftist Radical

Mussolini the Dictator

Mussolini the Innovator

Mussolini the Man of the People

Mussolini the Statesman

Mussolini the Joke

Mussolini the Dead Dictator

Origins of Fascism Grievances from WWI Structural social weaknesses Structural political weaknesses Weakness of the Left

Grievances from WWI ‘The least of the great powers’ (R. Bosworth) –Great War: Versailles –Fiume (Rijeka) and DalmatiaFiume (Rijeka) and Dalmatia Veterans Last War of Independence; First National War

Structural social weaknesses Regionalism –A National Identity? Economy –Slow and uneven growth The ‘Southern Question’ –Mafia: an alternative State

Structural political weaknesses Legacy of 1861 –Trasformismo The political spectrum –An inept CentreAn inept Centre –A new Right –A divided Left

The Left The PCI-PSI split Interpreting international events Interpreting the Italian context

PART TWO: MUSSOLINI’S RISE TO POWER

The Fascist Movement(s) The Fascio: –Ancient Roman Republican symbol –Fascio=Bundle or Group A variety of organisations Rooted in WWI Membership: –Students; Ex-servicemen; Urban Middle- Classes;

The Fasci di Combattimento Benito Mussolini –Ideological path of a self-promoter From Anarchism to Fascism via Socialism –The power of the Media From L’Avanti to Il Popolo d’Italia via WWI

The 1919 Manifesto Universal Suffrage (from age 18) Abolition of the Senate 40-hour week and Minimum Wage Trade Unions representation in firm management Land for peasants

Manifesto cont. A progressive tax on capital Active redistribution of wealth Seizure of religious property A National Militia Nationalizing the weapons industry Seizure of 85% of war profits from contractors

Rise to power : from 2% to absolute power External events: –Passive Liberal governments –Proportional representation –Strikes and Land Occupation The financial problem Squadrismo: –Fascism as a paramilitary force The Popolo d’Italia

Early Fascism, an oxymoron? Revolutionary Fascism: Anti-establishment Syndicalist Anti-clerical Republican Urban v. Reactionary Fascism: Pro-establishment Ensuring Law and Order Catholic Monarchic Rural Are there any points of contact?

Mussolini Mussolini as synthesis of opposing trends –M. needed the squadrismo To threaten stability To show strength –But M. needed equally to deplore squadrismo To promise stability To appear reliable A masterfully ambiguous position.

Rise to power May 1921 elections –New Partito Nazionale Fascista gains 36 seats 28 October 1922 –‘March on Rome’ 30 October 1922 –King Vittorio Emanuele III invites Mussolini to form the government

Some questions on Fascism’s seizure of power? Why did Liberal politicians not use force against the fascist squads? Why did the King ask Mussolini to become PM? Why was the Left incapable to stop him? An attempt to tame Fascism by bringing it into the mainstream political fold.

Conclusion Fascism’s mobilising “themes” Conservative social values –Familism –Catholicism Rhetoric of history, power and conquest Nationalism as the pursuit of National identity

Conclusion cont. Fascism –Long-term origins of Fascism –Fascism’s rise aided by: The State’s mistakes, inability, unwillingness to act Tacit military support Bourgeoisie’s desire for Law and Order Failings of a bitterly divided Left –From revolutionary movement to authoritarian regime in defence of the social status quo

NAMES GABRIELE D’ANNUNZIO GIUSEPPE GIOLITTI AMEDEO BORDIGA ANTONIO GRAMSCI FILIPPO MARINETTI