Mussolini's Italy - Development of Fascism

Early message:

• Intended to be a movement, no clear ideology.
• Mix of Socialist and Nationalist ideas, cemented by concept of the Duce. 
• Prime aim was to gain power - beliefs were less important than their desire to restore Italy to greatness.

How did the message develop? What did it offer by 1922?:

• Dropped radical ideas - more acceptable face of fascism. 
• A movement and a party pledged to restore Italian power and prestige
• To develop the economy by increasing productivity
• To re-establish strong leadership and law and order. 
• Mussolini claimed that Italy has enough of politics and programmes and wanted action instead (which they were to bring). 

What groups and why?:

• Young-lower-middle class recruits from university, civil service and 'respectable' bourgeois families soon joined the party
• Key group = petty bourgeois - contained working and middle class who felt a collective sense of insecurity. Prone to turn to radical groups. 
• Many were ex-soliders, felt humiliated after the victory as they were not given their 'due' by the government. 
• Support also came from the rural lower-middle class. Allowing fascism gain a rural base. Many smaller peasant farmers and large landowners welcomed groups who would fight against the Socialist power. 

Who carried it out and against whom?

• Developed a sadistic policy of humiliating their political enemies. 
• Fascist members and leaders carried these acts out.
• Main enemies were the Socialists, so many of their victims belonged to the political party. 

What form did the violence take?

• The Fascists forced their victims to drink castor oil - in order to purge them of their sins. 
• Sometimes they were beaten up or the oil would be made into a 'cocktail' containing petrol, benzene or iodine. (Illness and Death could follow)

Why was it succssful?

• Elites and agents of government co-operated with the fascists to avoid similar treatment. 
• Authorities preferred to tolerate and collaborate than oppose Fascism.

• He lead them into power in 1922
• Not favourable in parliament due to his weak parliamentary base
• Used the threat of the Ras to reinforce his claims
• Tension within the Fascist movement and the governing groups was the way he used to gain his vital background.
• This meant that he lead the policies and claims and kept the movement together. 

Strengths:

• Half a million party members - quarter of a million Blackshirts
• Virtually controlled several regions
• Offerred to give firm leadership, end class conflict and gain national greatness - what people wanted.
• Violence smashed Socialism, attracting support from the elite and others - much of the population wanted this done.
• Other opponents were unable to co-operate against the growing threat 

Problems:

• Weakening power of Socialism meant less need for Fascism to overcome Socialist Revolution. 
• Responsible for the disorder through use of violence
• Divided on how to achieve power - Ras wanted to seize it.
• Mussolini had a weak base in Parliament.