Mussolini and the Fascist political system

Mussolini's aims in politics

Make laws simply by issuing decrees-parliament under his control, no political opposition, limit kings authority, armed forces loyal to Mussolini, Mussolini to decide on everything-Personal dictatorship

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Why was their no organised political opposition to Mussolini's regime?

Socialists under constant physical attack and Liberals and Popolari divided

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What helped Mussolini consolidate his position?

Seeking a relationship with powerful interest groups, notably the church, industrialists and the armed forces

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Interest groups

Competed against each other for authority but they looked to Mussolini to adjudicate their disputes and to make final decisions - without him government could not function and the regime would collapse

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Elements of Mussolini's personal dictatorship

Control of Fascist party, Propaganda and cult of personality, Censorship, Control of state institutions, Conciliation of powerful groups

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How did Mussolini control the Fascist party to further his personal dictatorship?

Purges of dissidents and control of appointments

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How did Mussolini control state institutions to further his personal dictatorship?

Reduced role of parliament, Purge of judges and Civil service and local government

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Role of the King in Mussolini's government

Monarchy traditionally distanced itself from domestic policy and concerned itself principally with foreign affairs, Dictator followed protocol by visiting King twice a week, Victor Emmanuel never asked for advice and told what duce wanted him to hear

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Role of parliament in Mussolini's government

1926-Lost its ability to discuss policy, to debate and amend proposed legislation and to criticise gov, Opposition banned, Chamber dominated by sycophantic Fascists, All candidates had to be Fascist approved,Parliament abolished in Jan 1939

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Role of the armed forces in Mussolini's government

Common interest in expanding armed forces and aggressive foreign policy, Promoted senior generals to prestigious Field Marshall, Pro-Fascist attitude enhanced prospects of promotion, Army resented Fascist militia being a significant military force

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Role of local government in Mussolini's government

Local self-gov abolished, Elected mayors and town councils replaced by Fascists, Building up support based on self-interest and avoiding unnecessary conflict

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Role of gov ministers in Mussolini's government

Mussolini not prepared to share power-no cabinet, Ministers simply told to follow Duce's instructions, Mussolini held most the important ministries - foreign affairs, interior and the three armed services

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Role of the civil services in Mussolini's government

Patronage to reward loyalty and introducing policies that conservatives could support, Ruthless in seeking out and destroying Opposition, Civil services carried out Duce's orders , Promotions motivated people to be Fascist card holders

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Role of judges in Mussolini's government

Dozens of judges sacked for being insufficiently sympathetic towards fascism or being too independent of gov, Italian legal system consequently lost all claim to impartiality, Imprisonment without trials became commonplace

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Role of powerful groups in Mussolini's government

Wooed the Vatican even before PM and emphasising church had nothing to worry about, Relations steadily warmed (1929 Lateran Agreements), Conciliatory tactics with industrialists - Vidoni Palace Pact 1925 banned unions and strikes

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When was parliament abolished and what was it replaced by?

Jan 1939 - replaced by Chamber of Faces and Corporations

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In 1927, what was the percentage of civil servants that were Fascist?

Only 15%

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Causes of tensions between Fascist party and gov institutions

Role of party not clearly defined by Mussolini, Party responsibilities subject to change by Mussolini, Ambitions of Fascist Ras to increase their power

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Examples of tension between party and state

ONB 1929: Party organisation vs Ministry of education, Dopolavaro 1927: Ministry of national economy vs party, Fascist militia vs army - weapon allocation, Local party secretaries vs prefects appointed by Ministry of interior - control of local gov

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How did Mussolini gain from party and state rivalry?

In disputes over jurisdiction both sides looked to Mussolini to solve the problem - inevitably this gave the Duce great power

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The fascist party

Lost most of its dynamism - became a bloated bureaucracy offering secure, undemanding jobs to Fascist supporters, Mussolini gave party sign role in education, leisure and propaganda, not nearly streamlined/efficient as duce/foreign admirers suggest

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Effectiveness of Fascist government

Disputes made gov slow/inefficient, Dictators personally occupying important ministries worsened situation, Duce didn't consult or prepare, Impossible to ensure that his decisions were being carried out, confusion/delay/incompetence

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Example that the Duce didn't consult or prepare with the Fascist government

When he selected the air force's new fighter plane after only a most cursory glance at the relevant information

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How did Mussolini cement his control over the Fascist party?

PNF serve the Duce and not other way round, Ras acknowledged Mussolini as Duce but reluctant to accept central direction, 'March on Rome' embarrassed a leader who was trying to reassure conservatives-a concession to pressure from the radical fascists

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Divisions within the fascists party

PNF was an uneasy coalition of groups with different ambitions,Only Mussolini could provide unity, Sympathetic to one faction than another, Late 1930s reverted to radical ideas of revolutionary Italian social habits

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How was Mussolini sympathetic to one faction than another?

Initially conciliatory to conservatives to secure the support of industry, then enthusiastic for a reorganisation of industry into a corporate state

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Mussolini as prime minister

Militia provided payed employment for sqaudristi-helped to ensure loyalty, Grand council, 1923 local parties purged of dissidents, Mussolini control still not absolute (Matteotti crisis), control over institutions of state

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Grand council

Supreme policy making body - strengthened his position as he appointed members

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When were local parties purged of dissidents?

1923

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In June 1925, how did Mussolini shut down dissenting voices?

He made a speech and demanded that the party should obey the leader

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By 1928, how was Mussolini's control over the Fascist party?

He controlled all party posts - PNF became completely subservient - Grand Council pointless

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Achille Starace

Prominent Fascist, who was party secretary from 1931-1939 - opened PNF to those who saw party membership simply as a way to secure a safe job

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By the 1930s, how was Fascist membership from the workers and peasants?

Workers and peasants who once made up 30% of membership were now a tiny minority

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How did Mussolini prevent the emergence of rivals?

Men of drive and ability found themselves moved from the centre of power - Italo Balbo sent to Libya and Dino Grandi dispatched to London as ambassador - He surrounded himself with people who were obedient and supplied him with constant flattery

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What was Mussolini prepared to do in order to prevent the emergence of rivals?

To allow them to keep much of their power in the provinces providing they remained utterly loyal and obedient - no serious rival ever emerged

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When was the final congress of the Fascist Party and when did Mussolini ban internal arguments?

1925

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When was the Vidoni Palace Pact and what did it mean?

1925 - Independent trade Unions were outlawed

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When was Mussolini able to make laws without the consent of parliament?

1926

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When did Parliament lose their right to debate proposed laws or to criticise the government?

1926

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When were opposition newspapers suppressed and journalists could be arrested for anything derogatory towards the regime?

1926

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When was the Cult of personality first underway?

1926

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When did Mussolini gain control to make all appointments in the Fascist Party?

1928

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When were the Lateran agreements and what was their aim?

1929 - To improve relations between Fascism and Catholic church

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When did Hitler become chancellor of Germany?

1933

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When was Parliament replaced by the Chamber of Fasces and Corporations?

1939

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How did Mussolini build support?

Propaganda and cult of personality, Foreign policy success: war in Ethiopia

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How did Mussolini deter opposition?

Rewards and promotions, Fascist membership vital in key occupations

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How did Mussolini crush opposition?

OVRA secret police, Violence and internal exile/concentration camps

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Why was open opposition to the Fascist regime difficult, dangerous and disorganised?

Ban on political activity outside Fascism, Press censorship denied opponents a platform for their views, they squabbled among themselves and failed to form common ground

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During the 1930s, how was support for Communism in Italy?

No more than 7,000 active supporters

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Justice and Liberty

Alliance between Socialists and Liberals, they kept the international press informed about the repression and injustice within Italy - a few thousand supporters

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OVRA

Secret Police - Operated independently - 20,000 actions weekly, suspects beat and taken to OVRA court - under control of Arturio Bocchini - tried around 4500 defendents by 1943-executed 31

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By 1926, how many people had Fascist squads murdered?

Around 2000

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MSVN

50,000 armed militia used to intimidate opponents

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Special Tribunals

Immediate judgements without a full trial - 21,000 people tried 1926-43, 3,596 sentences passed 1927-39 - avg sentence 5 years

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Impact of propaganda on support for Fascism

Stressed Mussolini's genius, impossibility of opposition and 'achievements' of fascism, stability, Foreign policy successes-Yugoslavia,Informed that foreigners were admirers - Uncertain how many Italians were fully convinced by incessant propaganda

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What was Mussolini's aim in propaganda?

Hoped to capture the imagination of the public and to win their commitment to the transformation of Italians into an energetic, disciplined, obedient and warlike people

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What does the lack of significant opposition show?

Certainly a reflection of the strength of the regime's repressive machinery, but it was also proof that the dictator knew how to manipulate his subjects

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Mussolini's stance to journalists and intellectuals

Journalists and intellectuals who might have been expected vigorously to oppose a system that so enthusiastically suppressed individual freedoms were encouraged to join that system - loyal journalists received extra pay - few could resist

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How did Mussolini deter opposition from the general public?

Used tactics of fear and self-interest

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Concentration camps

Much smaller scale than Nazi's, prison camps in remote in remote inhospital islands, conditions were tough, torture, brutality wasn't as systematic and not as bad as Nazi's

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How many prisoners were there in Italian concentration camps?

5,000

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Confino

A period of detention or house arrest in isolated southern villages far from their home towns

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How many people were subject to confino?

12,000 opponents of fascism

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Radios

Mid 1920s - 40,000 radios in whole of Italy-Large radios in town centres, 1924 radio network run by state - however ppl who could afford them usually had private radios

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Propaganda films

Slow to make-US Hollywood films dominated,Propagandised newsreels before each screening

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Fascist newspapers

Never had 10% of overall circulation, Still considerable illiteracy however readership grew from 20,000 to 250,000 1930s

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Journalists

Mussolini kept majority of big journalists as he realised they had dedicated readership

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Posters

Portrayed Mussolini as a 'God'- widely accessible for all - opposition papers removed temporarily

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Mass activities

Fascist demonstrations and sporting nationalism

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Downside to mass media for Mussolini

Wasn't enforced on anyone; people had a choice on whether they'd pay attention or completely ignore it - which the majority did

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Cult of personality

Intended to build popular support for the dictator and overawe political opponents by stressing his supposed superhuman talents - role model to Italian men, Quick to claim the credit of any successes and quicker to blame others

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Winston Churchill on Mussolini in 1927

'Sole thought was the lasting well-being of the Italian people'

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The arts

Considerably less state intervention and control , Considerable diversity through the Music industry and literature still apparent, Mussolini did try to push nationalist art but not successful

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Why were the majority of people attracted to Fascism?

Career advancement

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Overall judgement on Mussolini's propaganda and the cult of personality

Superficial success rather than having real impact on people's views

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Mussolini and the Fascist political system

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