An overview of the features of the dictatorships that emerged in Russia, Italy, Japan Flashcards
The Rise of Dictatorships after WW1
How did Russia (Soviet Union) control the media?
History books written to emphasise Stalin’s role in the revolution
* Books, art, sculpture, and music that were not to Stalin’s liking were banned
* Cults of personality
* Socialist realism
How did Russia (Soviet Union) use terror and repression?
NKVD (secret police) became a permanent part of the regime
* Labour camps (gulags) were established in in hospitable parts of the county
* Millions died during the course of Stalin’s dictatorship
* Purging of the party was common and removed possible sources of opposition
What was Mussolini’s ideology?
Mussolini was Europe’s first 20th century-fascist dictator.
Initially he began as a member of the Italian socialist party in 1912, but was expelled due to his advocating military intervention in World War I - DICTATOR + JOURNALIST WHO FOUNDED AND LED THE NATIONAL FASCIST PARTY (PNF)
Mussolini favoured Italian nationalism (VERY RADICAL) instead of socialism and hence founded the fascist movement (which was later adopted internationally in differing forms)
Mussolini’s political agenda opposed ideas of egalitarianism and class conflict, and rejected ideas present within Bolshevik Russia
His later politics included the themes of racial superiority, xenophobia, and imperialism that defined his actions as a dictator
Assumed editorship of Il Popolo d’Italia (“The People of Italy”) → stated his new philosophy “From today onward we are all Italians and nothing but Italians. Now that steel has met steel, one single cry comes from our hearts- Viva L’Italia! [Long Live Italy!]”
People believed that Mussolini as a Prime Minister, with his charismatic and enigmatic personality could confront the economic and political crisis then gripping Italy.
His attitudes were highly theatrical, his opinions were contradictory, his facts were often wrong, his attacks were frequently malicious and misdirected, however, his words were so dramatic and his metaphors so striking that he was capable of disseminating his political views
What was Stalins ideology?
Against Trotsky
Believed that something had to be done about the major economic crisis - russian civil war
Persecuted all opposition parties as he believed his ideologies were superior
Disregards all of Lenin’s laws and rules “From 1921 onward Stalin flouted the ailing Lenin’s wishes”, “1928 Stalin abandoned Lenin’s quasi-capitalist New Economic Policy” - Britannica
Secretary General advocated a policy of “Socialism in one country” → Rise of Stalinism
What was Mussolini’s goal?
Mussolini attempted to create a ‘Corporate State’
* Great emphasis placed on the mobilisation and indoctrination of young people
* Italy’s youth placed into the ‘Avanguardia’ and ‘Giovani Italiane’
* Mild on the spectrum of dictatorships
* Settled state differences through the Lateran Accord 1929
What conditions allowed mussolini to rise to power?
Before Benito Mussolini’s rise to power, Italy grappled with instability stemming from a lack of democratic tradition pre-1914, characterized by a fragmented political landscape with no majority in parliament. Additionally, stark economic disparities between the affluent North and impoverished South fueled discontent. The Catholic Church’s refusal to collaborate with the government further complicated matters.
Italy’s involvement in World War I, initially neutral then joining in 1915 for territorial gains, yielded little, fostering disillusionment during the Paris Peace Conference. The aftermath left Italy economically crippled, plagued by inflation, unpaid debts, unemployment, and agricultural crises, exacerbating the divide between the regions.
Post-war unrest, marked by strikes from 1918 to 1920, set the stage for Mussolini’s ascent. On October 31, 1922, he became prime minister with the king’s backing, swiftly consolidating power by stifling opposition, banning strikes, and establishing the notorious secret police. His creation of the “blackshirts,” a paramilitary force, further solidified his control.
Mussolini’s charismatic and theatrical demeanor, coupled with his socialist background and media experience, facilitated his rise, making him a formidable and memorable figure in Italian politics.w how to catch attention.
What did Hideki Tojo believe?
tojo was an ultranationalist, believing Japan must rely on its own power to establish itself as the dominant force in Asia by using militarism. Was a strong political and social conservative believing Japan should purge itself of liberal democracy to establish an authoritarian government.
What conditions enabled Tojo to rise
The surge of militarist nationalism in Japan during the 19th and early 20th centuries enforced subordination to the nation and military, with the divine emperor revered as a god-like figure. Despite the prime minister technically leading, high-ranking military officials held practical control. Japan’s status was undermined in the Treaty of Versailles, fostering anti-Western sentiment. The Taisho Democracy era saw rising communist and socialist support, while naval treaties curtailed Japan’s military power, leading to economic downturn. This, combined with Marxist influence and the desire for regional expansion, spurred a shift towards state-controlled economics.
What were Tojo’s aspirations?
Racial Aspirations:
During WWI, notions of racial and cultural superiority emerged, depicting Japan as divinely chosen.
Economic Motivations and the ‘New Order’:
The Japanese dictatorship responded to post-Great Depression desires for economic revival. Japan sought self-sufficiency, driving aggressive expansion into the Asia-Pacific, notably Manchuria in 1931, aiming to control natural resources and establish an economic ‘New Order’ favoring Japanese interests.
Foreign Policy of Imperial Expansionism:
An anti-Western economic stance fueled imperial expansionism, challenging Western powers’ dominance. Japan withdrew from the League of Nations and signed the Anti-Comintern Pact with Germany in 1937, initiating numerous imperial campaigns.
Military Aggression:
Under the dictatorship, an oppressive militant culture prevailed. The attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941 aimed to eliminate the USA as a barrier to further expansion, sparking the Pacific War lasting until 1945.
