How Fascism Managed To Come To Power in Italy, In 1922 - Essay Example

? How Fascism Managed To Come To Power in Italy, In 1922 Fascism was a common political and social ideology during the 20th century. It used totalitarian, militaristic, and nationalistic values to develop a feasible society. This was through radical regimentation of individual and national lives. The ideology was on the basis that total subordination to the states and the unwavering loyalty to its leader would adjust the conflicting interest in a state. Ethnicity and national identity are the main drives of fascism since it seeks to regenerate social, cultural and economic life of a state. National belonging to an ethnicity is highly emphasized in this ideology. It does not promote any tenets of democracy. These range from free media, individual freedom and legislation of laws. Clearly, the attempts to impose the fascist ideas have led to war. For instance, the World War II and the holocaust show the effects of fascism. Fascist movements stand against all other political ideologies and only borrow the ideal-type characteristics that emphasized on ethnicity. Although the emphasis on fascism was nationalism, its main appeal was international. In fascism, there is intense political patriotism, and it is in this that the fascist leaders build their main foundation on. In this essay, I will discuss factors that enhanced the success of fascism in Italy during Benito Mussolini’s regime. The paper majorly focuses on explaining how the success was due to the anti-party characteristic of fascism. Benito Mussolini was the founder and leader of fascism in Italy. From his early life, there was immense interest in fascism as the best technique to improving the system in Italy. As a journalist, his main topics covered on fascism. Mussolini was a prime minister in Italy after the First World War. His fascist ideas propelled him to become a powerful figure in Italian politics by this time (Falasca-Zamponi, 2007 p100). After the First World War, most economies were shattered including Italy’s economy. It is in this respect that Mussolini emerged as a fascist leader. He developed ideas against communism and explained that it was the reason for failure of the Italian state. His fascist ideas were aptly informed and in most cases, they were populist-based. There was unrest in most cities since the unemployment levels were on the rise (Burgwyn, 2012 p16). In his quest to initiate fascism in Italy, Mussolini promised to build Italy and recreate the Roman Empire. He developed armed gangs known as the Blakshirts who dealt with criminal any people causing trouble. This group also dissolved protests and strikes. In some Italian cities, the fascist were the police officers. Clearly, fascism by Mussolini was a technique and not a doctrine. He used it to gain credibility that is more public. Mussolini rose as the prime minister when he threatened to organize demonstrations in Rome, in October 1992. This was during the reign of King Emmanuel III. Since Mussolini had great public support, his wish was granted by the king (Townley, 2002 p98). The king understood that he was in no position to counter Mussolini’s effect on all the people in Italy. Fascism by this time had grown in terms of public support. Once Mussolini became the prime minister, the king allowed him to be a dictator for a year. Up to this time, there was evident cowardice depicted by King Emmanuel. Mussolini then developed his fascist ideologies in full swing. He reformed most of the existing systems in Italy. These are in the sense of political, social and economic structures in Italy. Clearly, fascism was a technique used, by Mussolini, to achieve nationalism in Italy but also gain an international appeal. In his first functions as the new prime minister, Mussolini turned Italy to a totalitarian state. He restructured everything in the Italian state. This was on an effort to build fascism as a strong ideology in Italy. The government had total control over everything in Italy. As the prime minister, Mussolini was above the law. He became a dictator of the Italian people setting many strategies to counter any opposition. He believed that having an anti-party system was the best solution to the woes of the Italian people. This misadvised policy only made Italy feature as a prosperous nation for a while. From the 1920-1930’s Mussolini emerged as one of the most feared dictators in Europe. In Italy, the trade unions were banned, and all workers joined corporations. The books and newspapers were censored. There was no media freedom in Italy. Education was controlled, and all boys in Italy were to become soldiers. Fascism was taught in schools. The women were not allowed to work and remained home to take care of the children (Passmore, 2003 p24). Mussolini also began a series of battles to help improve the economy. Clearly, the fascist ideologies countered and suppressed all the tenets of democracy. This is all the perspectives of social, economic and political structures. To facilitate his fascist ideologies, Mussolini made a pact with the Catholic Church, in 1929. These Lateran pacts ended the long friction that existed between the church and state. The pope agreed to Mussolini’s terms that fascism was to be taught in the schools. Mussolini also used religion to strengthen fascism. He explained that, through this, there would be a total capture of the individuals’ loyalty. Fascism, of course, was based on individual and ethnic loyalty to the government (De Grand, 2000 p214). Fascism, therefore, engaged any avenue that could capture more support from the public. For a while, fascism appeared to be successful and prosperous, but most of its principles and ideas were not well thought out by Mussolini. To some extent, Mussolini can be considered a symbol for crisis in Italy. Mussolini had a contradictory and complex character that mad most influential people in Italy believe and actually have hopes in him. These include the pope and king Emmanuel. In his ideologies, no long-term projections were evident. Mussolini was a political tactician with the appropriate brilliance in scheming. By the 1930’s, most people in Italy were not happy with fascism. This was because it oppressed and suppressed their freedoms. It was at this time that parties would appropriately wage opposition to Mussolini’s regime and its unpopularity. However, there was no single case where any party, rose in Italy, to oppose the oppressive regime. Clearly, Mussolini had suppressed this ability and anyone who wanted to wage opposition was assassinated. For instance, Matteoti spoke radically against Mussolini’s regime through his projections of socialism as the best gift for Italy. His death caused outrage among many citizens in Italy and almost caused Mussolini his political career. However, to some sense, it also allowed Mussolini to increase his political power. In summary, fascism is an ideology that bases on ethnicity. It focuses on nationalism but also achieving an international appeal. Mussolini was the main proposer of fascism for Italy. He explained that, through fascism, Italy would achieve stability, politically, socially and economically. It is in line with this that he managed to convince King Emmanuel to allow him to be a prime mister. As the prime minister, he furthered his fascist ideologies. He first made Italy a totalitarian state. The trade unions were abolished, and coporativism was upheld. Fascism was taught in schools. Newspapers and books were censored in an effort to have countered any resistance over fascism. Clearly, fascism means that the government has total power over the state. All the tenets of a democracy were ignored. There was only a single political party in Italy. Mussolini perfected fascism through having pacts with the Catholic Church. This meant more support for this technique. By the 1930’s, most people in Italy had lost hope in fascism. It was expected that political parties would engage this unpopularity to their advantage. However, this was not the case and for the few opposes like Matteoti were murdered. Mussolini’s fascism was a total anti-party technique. He believed it was not a doctrine. Fascism focuses majorly on public patriotism in its ideologies. It was in this light that Mussolini managed to rule Italy as a dictator for a long time. Bibliography BURGWYN, H. J. (2012). Mussolini warlord failed dreams of empire, 1940-1943. New York, Enigma Books. DE GRAND, A. J. (2000). Italian fascism: its origins & development. Lincoln ;London, University of Nebraska Press. FALASCA-ZAMPONI, S. (2007). Fascist spectacle: the aesthetics of power in Mussolini's Italy. Berkeley, University of California Press. PASSMORE, K. (2003). Women, gender, and fascism in Europe: 1919 - 45. New Brunswicl, NJ, Rutgers Univ. Press. TOWNLEY, E. (2002). Mussolini and Italy. Oxford, Heinemann Educational.       Read More