The Ideology of Fascism
Now-a-days the word Fascism is considered a political horror and insult, referring to the terrible dictatorships of WWII; most notably Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Yet the movement itself actually started in Italy shortly after WWI. I've always been interested in politics, and am quite fascinated by how this terrible ideology actually took shape, and what exactly it consists of. This is a general look at the start of Fascism in Italy.
The roots of Fascism began during World War I and merged the political concepts of Socialism and Nationalism, with the utmost emphasis on a united-state. It distanced itself from Communism, by putting the nation first instead of class. The economic ideology was considered a "Third Way" approach to the spectrum of Free Markets and Controlled Markets. Italy was the first country to model this Fascist government,
and was followed shortly after by Germany, Spain, Brazil, and several others. The government was an authoritarian, single-party state, run by a supreme leader known as the dictator. This dictator would then forced it's ideology, through propaganda, education, ruthless violence, and total militarism. This radical ideology sprung quite suddenly throughout Europe, yet also came to an abrupt end.
Italian Nationalism
Following the unification of Italy in 1861, a patriotic movement quickly began to spread throughout the Kingdom of Italy. Inspired by their Roman descendants, this social movement called for a nationalized Italian culture and economy. During WWI, Italy had an alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary yet remained neutral. In 1915 however, King Victor Emmanuel III, decided to break off their alliance with the central powers and enter the war on the side of the British allies. At the end of the war, Italian pride began to soar throughout the country, yet their demands were not granted which frustrated many Italians.
Benito Mussolini
In his early career, Benito Mussolini began as a teacher and a journalist. He was a member of the Italian Socialist party, yet unlike his political peers he opposed egalitarianism and was anti-Christian. With the outbreak of WWI, Mussolini began to change his views and eventually supported the war. This angered the Socialist party who kicked him out, causing Mussolini to start his own movement. He began to push his ideology through newspapers, claiming it was both a revolutionary and traditionalist movement and not a class-war! Yet the key to Mussolini's success in spreading his Fascist Ideology was no doubt thanks to his secret force of Blackshirts.
The Blackshirts
This armed force, made up of nationalists, landowners, and army officers, became the political muscle of Benito Mussolini. Dressed in black these men took the streets, and used violent tactics to clash with political opponents; communists, socialists, and anarchists. The government did not interfere with this underground political war, because it did not want a Communist Revolution to occur as it did in Russia. These blackshirts were thus very effective in purging the streets from opponents, and should be credited with the formation of the National Fascist Party in 1922. During the March on Rome, Mussolini lead a coup d'etat against King Emmanuel III, with nearly 30,000 Blackshirts. He had the support of the military, the business classes, and the right wing, and thus began his totalitarian state.
The Italian Dictatorship
By 1923 Mussolini became supreme leader of Italy, known as Il Duce, and quickly established a violent police-state to solidify his control. He used heavy propaganda, education, and youth organizations to make sure everyone was on board with this new reformation. He also laid out a new nationalized economic policy of infrastructure, through construction and agricultural programs, and took over the banks and big businesses.
Yet Mussolini's ultimate collapse was due to his aggressive expansionism, in trying to create an Italian Empire. He did this by conquering Ethiopia and Libya and lending support to Franco's Spanish national army. Mussolini was greatly undermined by the rising military power of Hitler's Nazi Germany, and had to bow down to it's will. The two countries became allies during the Second World War, yet Italy's military proved to be very ineffective. Throughout WWII, Mussolini was constantly humiliated by his military defeats and German rescues, and eventually lost grip of his power by 1942. He tried to form a Social Republic yet was eventually captured and murdered by Communists in 1945. His body was hung upside down in a town square, for all to witness the fall of Fascism.
Now-a-days the word Fascism is considered a political horror and insult, referring to the terrible dictatorships of WWII; most notably Adolf Hitler and Nazi Germany. Yet the movement itself actually started in Italy shortly after WWI. I've always been interested in politics, and am quite fascinated by how this terrible ideology actually took shape, and what exactly it consists of. This is a general look at the start of Fascism in Italy.
The roots of Fascism began during World War I and merged the political concepts of Socialism and Nationalism, with the utmost emphasis on a united-state. It distanced itself from Communism, by putting the nation first instead of class. The economic ideology was considered a "Third Way" approach to the spectrum of Free Markets and Controlled Markets. Italy was the first country to model this Fascist government,
and was followed shortly after by Germany, Spain, Brazil, and several others. The government was an authoritarian, single-party state, run by a supreme leader known as the dictator. This dictator would then forced it's ideology, through propaganda, education, ruthless violence, and total militarism. This radical ideology sprung quite suddenly throughout Europe, yet also came to an abrupt end. Italian Nationalism
Following the unification of Italy in 1861, a patriotic movement quickly began to spread throughout the Kingdom of Italy. Inspired by their Roman descendants, this social movement called for a nationalized Italian culture and economy. During WWI, Italy had an alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary yet remained neutral. In 1915 however, King Victor Emmanuel III, decided to break off their alliance with the central powers and enter the war on the side of the British allies. At the end of the war, Italian pride began to soar throughout the country, yet their demands were not granted which frustrated many Italians.
Benito Mussolini
In his early career, Benito Mussolini began as a teacher and a journalist. He was a member of the Italian Socialist party, yet unlike his political peers he opposed egalitarianism and was anti-Christian. With the outbreak of WWI, Mussolini began to change his views and eventually supported the war. This angered the Socialist party who kicked him out, causing Mussolini to start his own movement. He began to push his ideology through newspapers, claiming it was both a revolutionary and traditionalist movement and not a class-war! Yet the key to Mussolini's success in spreading his Fascist Ideology was no doubt thanks to his secret force of Blackshirts.
The Blackshirts
The Italian Dictatorship
Yet Mussolini's ultimate collapse was due to his aggressive expansionism, in trying to create an Italian Empire. He did this by conquering Ethiopia and Libya and lending support to Franco's Spanish national army. Mussolini was greatly undermined by the rising military power of Hitler's Nazi Germany, and had to bow down to it's will. The two countries became allies during the Second World War, yet Italy's military proved to be very ineffective. Throughout WWII, Mussolini was constantly humiliated by his military defeats and German rescues, and eventually lost grip of his power by 1942. He tried to form a Social Republic yet was eventually captured and murdered by Communists in 1945. His body was hung upside down in a town square, for all to witness the fall of Fascism.
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