Fascism

Objective: Students will develop an understanding of Fascism.

Fascism: fascio: Group or squad. (fasces) Italian word for an axe bundled

with sticks. Symbol of authority of Roman Republic

Fascio di Combattimento: Italian Fascist party, first development of “fascism” as a form of government.

http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/january2005/130105fascistsymbols.htm

What is fascism???

According to Mussolini…

“The man of Fascism is an individual who is nation and fatherland, which is a moral law, binding together individuals and the generations into a tradition and a mission, suppressing the instinct for a life enclosed within the brief round of pleasure in order to restore within duty a higher life free from the limits of time and space: a life in which the individual, through the denial of himself, through the sacrifice of his own private interests, through death itself, realizes that completely spiritual existence in which his value as a man lies.”

Benito Mussolini

“...The Fascist accepts life and loves it, knowing nothing of and despising suicide: he rather conceives of life as duty and struggle and conquest, but above all for others -- those who are at hand and those who are far distant, contemporaries, and those who will come after...”

Benito Mousslini

“Fascism is a form of political and social behavior that arises when the middle class, finding its hopes frustrated by economic instability coupled with political polarization and deadlock, abandons traditional ideologies and turns, with the approbation of police and military forces, to a poorly-defined but emotionally appealing soteriology of national unity, immediate and direct resolution of problems, and intolerance for dissent.” (Chuck Anesi, 2008)

Michael Mann is a historical sociologist and Professor of Sociology at UCLA.  In his book Fascists (Cambridge University Press, 2004)   he provides the following definition:  

 “Fascism is the pursuit of a transcendent and cleansing nation-statism through paramilitarism.”  (Mann, op. cit., p. 13)

   

Transcendence: Belief that the state can transcend social conflict and blend all social classes into a harmonious whole. Belief in the power of political ideology to transcend human nature and produce a better world.

  Cleansing (ethnic): Favoring one or more ethnic or racial groups over

others, either by granting special privileges or imposing disabilities; deportation of ethnic minorities, or worse.

Cleansing (political): Silencing the political opposition so that the

transcendent aims of fascism can be realized. Restricting the freedom of speech, outlawing opposition parties, imprisoning political opponents (or worse) and indoctrinating youth in fascist principles.

Statism: Promoting a high degree of state intervention in personal, social, or economic matters. Belief that the state can accomplish anything.

Nationalism: Belief in the inherent unity of a population with distinct linguistic, physical, or cultural characteristics and its identification with a nation-state. Belief that the nation possesses special attributes that make it superior to other nations in some or all ways.

Paramilitarism: "Grass roots", populist squadrism aimed at coercing opponents and obtaining popular approbation by acting as a supplementary police force.

Italy after World War I

The conditions were right for fascism to take hold Weak political

leadership and ineffective government

Economic turmoil Social discontent Growing fear of

socialism Disappointment over

Italy’s limited territorial gains from the Treaty of Versailles

Benito Mussolini Began as a socialist

but came to think that World War I marked a turning point for Italy and something else was needed

By 1921, had 35 fascists elected to the Italian parliament

Used armed squads known as Blackshirts to threaten socialists

Used violence and fear to garner “support” for the new politico

Mussolini surrounded by supporters

Benito Mussolini On Oct 28, 1922,

Mussolini’s followers marched on Rome. The king knew that to resist would lead to Revolution.

The next day the King asked Mussolini to become Prime Minister and form a new government

By 1926, Mussolini had seized total power as dictator and became Il Duce (“the leader”)

PRIDE, GLORY, HONOUR Fascist slogan

The Fascist State by 1929 Mussolini Eliminated all other political

parties Curbed freedom of the press Outlawed free speech and

association Crushed labor unions and

prohibited strikes Improved agriculture and

industry, increasing employment.

Labeled Jews unpatriotic and banned them from government employment

Gained support from the Pope by declaring the Vatican under the sovereignty of the Pope’s authority.

Increased the military (employment, paramilitarism, nationalism)

Mussolini may have done many brutal and tyrannical things; he may have destroyed human freedom in Italy; he may have murdered and tortured citizens whose only crime was to oppose Mussolini; but one had to admit one thing about the Dictator: he “made the trains run on time.”

Ashley Montagu and Edward Darling

Italian Imperial Intentions: August 27, 1923, Tellini and three assistants

were assassinated. Albanians blamed Greeks, Greeks blamed

Albanians. August 29, 1923, Italian Ultimatum:

Italians demanded $50 M Lire, and execution of the assassins

Italy attacked and occupied Corfu on August 31, 1923

Greece appealed to the League of Nations for intervention (again)

League of Nations commission determined that Italy had to leave but Greece had to pay all reparations. (2nd decision– Ask me about the first

decision!!) Italy withdrew on September 27, 1923. League a success? Italy a success?

Corfu Crisis: Boundary dispute between Greece and Albania.

2nd dispute involving Greece (Bulgarian Crisis of 1925)

LoN told Greece to get out– Considered a success League of Nations to resolve boundary dispute Italians were delegates to the League of Nations GeneralTellini- Chairperson

Great Depression Changes EVERYTHING Times are hard and national leaders begin

looking for alliances, answers, and RESOURCES.

Manchurian Crisis (we’ll talk about this later. )

Abyssinian Crisis (we’ll talk about this now )

Abyssinian Crisis

(Abyssinia is modern day Ethiopia) Was an Italian colony until 1896 when the Abyssinians

revolted and pushed Italy out, established a monarchy. Mussolini was determined to regain Abyssinia. December 1934, accused Abyssinia of aggression Successes with the Corfu Incident emboldened

Mussolini in his African quest.

October 1935, Mussolini invaded Abyssinia By May 1936, Abyssinians defeated, declared

Italian colony. United Italian East Africa

Why do we care about Abyssinia? Abyssinia and Italy were both members of the League of Nations Abyssinia appealed to the League. The LoN decided

to impose economic sanctions against Italy to make them retreat.Took 6 weeks to organizeNot all members compliedDid not include oil sanctions (ask me why!)

Britain and France concerned about provoking ItalyGibraltar, Mediterranean, Suez, Africa, (Pacification: KBPP: early appeasement)

Countries (led by Italy and Germany) begin to withdraw from the League by 1937. League dismantled.

Great LoN

Was the League Successful in the 1920s?

Mussolini and Hitler

Mussolini became friends with Adolf Hitler and in 1936 declared world history would revolve around a Rome-Berlin axis

In May 1939, Mussolini and Hitler signed a ten-year Pact of Steel