Mussolini's Domestic Policies: Economic and Propaganda,

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1 Mussolini's Domestic Policies: Economic and Propaganda, Past Paper Questions: Compare and contrast the domestic policies of Hitler and Mussolini. (May 10) Evaluate the impact on Italy of Mussolini s domestic and foreign policies between 1922 and (May 09) Compare and contrast the social and economic policies of Hitler and Mussolini. (Nov 08) Mussolini s greatest skill lay in projecting himself through propaganda as a great leader. How far do you agree with this assertion? (May 07) Compare and contrast totalitarian rule in Hitler s Germany and Mussolini s Italy, up to (May 05) Key aims for Economic Policy: Economy Wanted to improve economy so that foreign input was no longer necessary- autarky for the Italian state. Wanted to portray the greatness of Italy in economic and social terms to the world. Propaganda Mussolini wanted to create a "personal dictatorship" with the Italian people praising him, and being the master of his own party. Economic policies adopted to realise his aims? Battle for Grain (1925): Improve agriculture to increase grain production so that foreign import was no longer needed (policy to achieve main aim of autarky as well as show economic strength of Italy to improve national pride). Farmers were given grants on tractors and fertilizers and advice on modern techniques. Corporate State ( ): It was aimed to transform the economy to a revolutionary form to aviod problems of labour disputes with capitalists.

2 The "corporate revolution" would provide corporation for each industry that would manage relations between employers and employees- create greater co-operation to maximize production for the good of the nation. Successes of these policies? From whose perspective? Battle for Grain: The grain imports were rescued by 75% between 1925 and 35. Mussolini took credit for this and protrayed himself as a man of the people- seen as a success for Mussolini as it improved his popularity both with the Italian people and also with foreign countries. Corporate state: By 1934, 22 corporations covering most of the Italian economy had been set up and seemed to be able to influence the entire economy. Battle for Grain: Failures of these policies? From whose perspective? It increased production of wheat but at large costs in other areas of production- much of the land that had been used was much more suitable for citrus, grapes and olives so exports of these decreased drastically. It failed to address the North-South divide in Italy and the rural poverty of the South. This policy was more concerned with increasing Mussolini's own power and prestige and so was largely a failure for the population. Overall, it was a success in terms of wheat and Mussolini's popularity but damaged agriculture in other areas and failed to address the main problem of rural poverty. Corporate state: In reality, the corporations were dominated by Fascists rather than workers' representatives and workers' interests tended to be pushed aside. Major industrialists tended to ignore the corporations which was made possible by the fact that the corporations were advisory rather than legally binding. Corporations did not solve conflicts between capita and labour, but suppressed them and never took the important role that Mussolini had suggested. Largely "window-dressing" for Mussolini but failed in practice.

3 Methods and strategies of propaganda adopted by Mussolini? Propaganda: Mussolini encouraged his cult of personality that stressed his genuis, his power and indispensability as a leader of the nation. He consolidated his position by creating relations with powerful interest groups such as the Church, industrialists and the armed forces. In 1926, opposition newspapers were suppressed and journalists and editors could be arrested if anything "unappropriate" towards the regime was published. Mussolini's own press issued the "official" version of events. From 1924, the radio network was run by the state and bulletins continously praised Mussolini and broadcasted his speeches. By 1930s, it was made sure that all schools had radios and those living in the rural areas could at least listen to communal radios in their villages. Regime was however slow with showing patriotic films in the cinema and American movies still dominated, but it was made sure that each of these movies would be preceeded by a short newsreel which gave a Fascist version of the current events. Cult of personality: Became increasingly known as "il duce" and the cult was intended to buuild up popular support for Mussolini and "overawe" possible opposition by stressing his superhuman talents. Portrayed as Italy's saviour and a man chosen by destiny to save the country from Socialism and corrups democratic politicians + restore Italian greatness. Newspapers stressed the quoting opinions of foreign politicians to prove Italy's greatness abroad; Chamberlain was widely reported to having said that Mussolini was a "wonderful man working for the greatness of his country". Newspapers also suggested that "Mussolini is always right" and Mussolini himself would encourage the cult by statements such as "often I would like to be wrong, but so far it has never happened and events have always turned out just as I foresaw". He was quick to claim credits for successes and to blame the failures on others. Successes of this: how popular was Mussolini? Its is uncertain of many people were actually convinced by the cult of personality but it did seem to help to convince the public that there was no other alternative to the fascist regime. The volume of propaganda stressing Mussolini's powers and genuis deterred potential opposition and in this sense achieved its aims. Much was heard of the Fascist successes abroad and it seemed that at least till the late 1930s, the dictator was producing stability at home and success abroad.

4 Many foreign journalists were impressed by the apparent enthusiasm displayed at Fascist rallies and believed Mussolini to be extremely popular. Italian historian Felice has argued that Mussolini was genuinly popular at least between the yeasr with the victory over Ethiopia and lasted until ill-fated invasion of Greece in Failures: why is hard to judge the extent of Mussolini's popularity? Many differing views; anti-fascists exiles have sressed the brutal, repressive aspects of the reigme and argued that only fear deterred widespread opposition. Events in late 1930s with Greece and the more intrusive policies on the individual through fascist ideology, along with the anti-semetic laws in decreased popularity for the regime.

5 Mussolini's Domestic Policies: Social and Religious, Past Questions: Compare and contrast the domestic policies of Hitler and Mussolini. (May 10) Evaluate the impact on Italy of Mussolini's domestic and foreign policies between 1922 and (May 09) Compare and contrast the social and economic policies of Hitler and Mussolini. (Nov 08) "Mussolini's greatest skill lay in projecting himself through propaganda as a great leader." How far do you agree with this assertion? (May 07) Compare and contrast totalitarian rule in Hitler's Germany and Mussolini's Italy domestic policies of Hitler and Mussolini, up to (May 05) Policies towards Women Aims Mussolini aimed for women to give birth as a way of showing national vitality and providing soldiers for his armies Methods The Battle for Births in 1927 aimed to increase population by 50% to 60% by child family the ideal loans and tax breaks used to encourage child production, while higher taxes and job restrictions used to punish childless couples. Prizes given to those mothers with the most children doing the nation a service! Quota system introduced in 1933 to reduce number of women working to 10% of jobs in public sector, and then many companies also, as a way of trying to boost the battle for births. Successes of these women policies? From whose perspective? These policies were of no success to Mussolini as the practical demands of the economy meant that his ideological aims went unrealized. Failures of these women policies? From whose perspective? Birth rate actually declined until 1936, and rose only very slowly after this. By 1950, the population was only 47.5 million, long short of the target. Even in the workplace, the industrial workforce was still 33% in 1936, a fall of only 3% from 1921.

6 Policies on Youth and Education Aims Mussolini aimed to create loyal future fascists to secure regime, and aggressive, disciplined future soldiers. The youth was to be identified with fascism, Mussolini and Italy complete subordination to the national state. Methods In schools, loyalty of teachers was enforced in 1929, oath of loyalty, 1937, compulsory membership in fascist teachers association. Cult of personality promoted in school picture of Mussolini in the classroom. Given stress on national greatness, greater focus on history and literature. Books lacking in patriotism were banned 1936, one official national history textbook in use, stressing the leading role of Italy in world history (i.e. saved the Allies in WW1!) The establishment of youth clubs was an attempt to reach people outside of school via ONB (Opera Nazionale Balilla), This aimed to transform the Italian nation body and soul, and focused on both military/ideological training and sport and fitness, Children from the age of 8 up to those at university were to attend these organizations. Successes of these policies? From whose perspective? An apparent success of these policies would be the control of the school curriculum/teachers and the power of the ONB to reach the youth. By 1937, seven million had joined the ONB. Failures of these policies? From whose perspective? It is not clear how many people were actually converted to Mussolini s fascist ideology. Many young people left school at 11, and in private and Catholic schools the state curriculum and ONB membership were not enforced so these were outside the programme of indoctrination. Even at universities, some people who had had a full fascist education were still not committed to Mussolini s ideals. Overall, the Fascists did establish control over the minds of young Italians, but there is plenty of evidence that suggests they failed to secure complete commitment to Fascism this way.

7 Aims Religious Policies Mussolini aimed to compromise with the Church (he was anti-religious, and in an ideal world would have liked to replace the influence of Catholicism over the people with Fascism) to win greater public support at home, and prestige abroad. Methods In 1929, the Lateran agreements ended conflict between Italian state and Catholic Church: Pope given Vatican city, and compensation for historic losses and Mussolini received the recognition of the Catholic Church (both in terms of the state and his fascist regime); Catholicism as the state religion, and religious education compulsory in all state schools, but he clergy could not be involved in politics. Successes of these religious policies? From whose perspective? This proved to be a great achievement for Mussolini, as it secured the moral of backing of the Church (and therefore the millions of Italians who looked to the Church for guidance), while guaranteeing that the Church and its clerics would not become a source of political opposition. Failures of these religious policies? From whose perspective? On the other hand, this policy represented that Mussolini had failed to replace Catholicism with Fascism, and that he was therefore giving up on trying removing the influence of the Church over Italian society. Also, the relations between the Church and the Fascist state complicated by 1931, disputes over the Catholic Action youth group which rivaled the ONB and conflicts over access to the minds of the young. After anti-semitic laws in 1938, the alliance between the Church and Fascism was over. Anti-semitism By the mid 1930s, Mussolini s foreign policy goals had brought the regime closer to the Nazi regime in Germany. Mussolini found himself persuaded that there was a Jewish resistance to Fascism both in Italy and across Europe The first clear example of the influence of Nazism appeared in July 1938 when the regime gave official blessing to the claims of Italian anti-semites by publishing a tract entitled the Manifesto of Racial Scientists, which declared that the Jews do not belong to the Italian race

8 The anti-jewish racial laws introduced in 1938 brought about a grave change to Italian Jews who lost much of their liberty and their standard of living. Italian Jews and foreign Jews were excluded from state institutions, and banned from any participation. Up until 1943, the regime did not collaborate with Nazi plans to exterminate all Jews in Europe. In fact, the implementation of Italy s anti-jewish laws was inconsistent. When the original Fascist regime collapsed in July 1943 and replaced by the Italian Socialist Republic, Mussolini allowed these racist Fascists their head. A decree of November 1943 ordered the confiscation of Jewish property and the rounding of up of all Jews. Over 7500 Italian Jews were sent to Nazi death camps in Eastern Europe. Only 600 survived. In terms of racial ideology, Mussolini did not share Hitler s obsession to create a master race. Instead, Mussolini believed that Italians had an innate superiority over other peoples but he never developed a racial ideology to underpin Italian Fascism. Overall Assessments and Conclusions Mussolini s domestic policies brought him considerable public support! Endless propaganda no doubt helped in this, and even if all Italians were not taken in by all of the claims of Mussolini s greatness they could still enjoy the claims of national greatness (i.e. winning 1938 football world cup). However, he failed to transform the Italian national character into a new fascist mould (athletic, aggressive, and obedient). Most people conformed outwardly to fascism, but managed to retain their traditional habits and attitudes. Furthermore, Fascism attempted to make further changes to behavior in the later 1930s, popular support for the regime began to fall. Overall, Mussolini brought some stability to Italy and remained in power for 21 years ( ), being personally popular for most of these. However, he did not succeed in realizing his hoped for fascist revolution.