consolidating power Flashcards
how did Mussolini succeed in increasing his own popularity?
- cult of Il Duce sustained myth of regime
- propaganda in all medias
- 30 million pictures of him circulated
- appears a dynamic leader
how did Mussolini fail to increase his own popularity?
-image harder to sustain as he gets older
-less popular after 1935
-focus on one leader rather than an ideology will not outlive him
(-at expense of own party)
how did Mussolini succeed in controlling the Italian people?
- only 9 death sentences
- Bocchini and OVRA broke up antifascist organisation
- 5000 informers
- OND: 4m members by 1939
- press censorship (Avanti! banned)
- confino threat
- 1937 ministry of popular culture
how did Mussolini fail to control the Italian people?
- solvenes
- can’t reach south
- con’t control what people think/believe. Only participate because it benefits them
- ministry of pop culture not sophisticated
how did Mussolini succeed in creating a nation of loyal fascists?
- ONB indoctrinates youth
- idea of second ceasar
- teachers had to be part of PNF
- 1929 centralised education and youth groups
- by 1937 fascist youth organisations had over 7m members
- 1937 1m attend exhibition of Roman history
- 1934 and 1938 football world cups
how did Mussolini fail to create a nation of loyal fascists?
- cult of Il Duce separates Mussolini and fascism
- OND does not aim to indoctrinate
- 87% of box office takings are from Hollywood films
- youth formed antifascist organisations
- in south, few studied past the compulsory age
- less girls took part than boys
how did Mussolini compromise with the king (Victor Emmanuel III)?
- Italy remained a constitutional monarchy with the king as head of state
- king refused to put fascist symbol on flag and spoke out against anti-Semitic decrees
how did Mussolini fail to compromise with the king (Victor Emmanuel III)?
- slowly reduced the kings power e.g. June 1940 took complete control of the military
- king was happy to play subservient
how did Mussolini compromise with the conservative elites?
ARMY: allowed it to be run independently
- M was minister for war but left the running of armed forces to undersecretaries
- ambitious generals realised being pro-fascist would get them a promotion
CIVIL SERVICE: had to be PNF members by 1935
- rewarded loyalty
- membership of PNF increased in 1920s
how did Mussolini fail to compromise with the conservative elites?
- JUDICIARY: purged judges who were too independent or did not support fascism
- M occasionally intervened on verdicts and sentences
how did Mussolini compromise with the central government?
-left the senate completely unchanged (gets conservative elites on side)
how did Mussolini fail to compromise with the central government?
- Dec 1925 became head of government
- opposition parties banned
- parliament lost most abilities
- electorate shrank and results were rigged
- FGC in reality had little influence
how did Mussolini compromise with local governments?
-traditional position of prefect as highest state authority in each province remained
how did Mussolini fail to compromise with local governments?
- placed in hands of the conservative elite
- local self government abolished
- appointed by Mussolini to ensure loyalty
- ras were angry that podesta got to run local councils
