Giovanni Giolitti Government Flashcards
Introduction to Giolitti - Giolittan Era
He was PM of Italy for 5 different terms and because his political ideology shaped Italy to such an extent, 1901-1914 was known as the Giolittan Era ; he was the master of transformismo and kept files on the weaknesses of every deputy to guarantee their support. His key motto was to make Italy into a modern, industrialised and successful country where the masses shared the common faith in liberal parliament. This focused on gaining the support of 3 key oppositional forces :
Socialists
Catholic Church
Nationalists
Growth of the W/c and socialism
Socialism’s growth mirrored the economic expansion centred around the industrial triangle of the North - urbanisation transformed the peasants who RUM creating a mix of Italians encouraging the dissemination of socialists with increased literacy rates and working class advancement
Filippo Turati
He was the leader of the PSI who had lost faith in liberal ability to achieve the dreams of the Risorgimento movement and only believed that socialism was the way forward to solving corruption and rural poverty. The PSI were the main socialist party and were active in taking their message to the people by holding meetings and lectures - they promoted rural literacy and encouraged greater education to help challenge the political order
Rate of Socialism growth
Socialism grew very rapidly with 250000 industrial workers joining national federation in 1902 and many cooperatives had been formed by 1910 against the ruling elite and by 1932 the PSI had won 1/4 of all votes in Italian Parliament
How did Giolitti deal with socialism’s growth?
Giolitti viewed it as another opposition he could transform through absorption and he offered many social reforms such as the banning of employment of children under 12 in 1901 and the introduction of the maternity fund in 1910. The greatest concession was when he asserted a new policy of non-intervention in labour disputes and the establishment of arbitration courts (external courts) that would help in settling employer and employee disputes ; lowering the need for any strikes.
Was he successful in dealing with the socialists?
Giolitti was successful to a degree as Turati viewed it as being able to get what he wanted without violence - but he was unable to convince maximalists who believed in Revolution (Mussolini) thus undermining his process of transformismo (radicalists) but also increased conflict with the church and nationalists
Rise of anti-socialism in the Catholic Church
Concerned by the growth of the PSI in 1909, the pope encouraged Italians (Catholics) to vote in 150 constitutions where the socialists had a chance of winning - thus when Giolitti became PM again, the cooperation between Catholics and liberals was most obvious on a local level (Turin)
Influence of the Roman Catholic Church 1914
The church had grown its influence through youth movements and sports clubs that had expanded considerably from 1904-1911 Hereford they were able to hold power over voting in the North BUT they were still really happy because of the Roman Question of 1870
How did Giolitti respond to the RCC & was he successful?
He was ready to use his policy of transformismo again (DIVORCE BILL 1904) and used the Catholics to increase parliamentary majority BUT he was not ready to prioritise the RCC and instead mainly courted the PSI - was not prepared to jeopardise workers supporting the liberal state by offering concessions to the church ; he was partially successful but still did not solve the Roman question (festered tension) and prioritises the socialists
Increased interest in nationalist ideas
Nationalism was a dynamic movement that swept across the whole of Europe in the early 20th century which was more ideological than an actual political party ; there were many causes such as the shame of emigration, failed foreign policy and Risorgimento and weakness as a world supper power - this caused thought that war and expansion would overcome domestic strife ; prepared to die for their country
Irredentism and the ANI
The nationalists were anti-socialists and anti liberals believing that Italy would return to the glory of the Roman Empire through aggressive foreign policy - they must claim the irredente lands and colonise countries aiming to unite all classes with patriotism and sweep away the decadent liberals - destroy cynical corruption of RCC and undermine popularity of socialism ; domestic strife would be overcome by war and expansion
Liberals to them had failed Risorgimento and encouraged selfish individualism
Nationalists formed the ANI party in 1o10 which was a proper organisation under Corradini who though the liberals were their sworn enemies (weak and corrupt)
Giolitti’s response to ANI and success judgement
Introduced a liberal programme which was full of modern and economic modernisation hoping the public would vote for him and undermine the support of the ANI - BUT he was totally unsuccessful as his policy failed due to the fact that nationalism was a greater attraction than liberalism in its more passionate patriotic message which promised to unite Italians
Existing foreign policy problems
Triple alliance with Germany and Austria - Hungary was strained as Italy had an interest in the Balkans which clashed with Austria - also believed they were the barrier to claiming the irredente lands of South Tyrol - Giolitti resisted taking a aggressive stance even though nationalists were pressuring him
Why did Italy start a war with Libya?
1) 1911 - Giolitti was ready to placate the nationalists with empire expansion ; Italy’s interests in Balkan’s clashed with Austria’s interest and they were part of triple alliance
2) 1902 - Italy signed a deal in which Italy would support French invasion of Morocco in return for French backing Italy in Libya and thus when France consolidated power in Morocco, Italy was worried they would expand to Libya (threat of national humiliation like Tunisia)
3) Italy’s invasion would gain the support of the RCC who had considerable financial gain in Libya - would appease both RCC and nationalists
Short term success of Libyan Invasion
29th September 1911
A lot of national enthusiasm and Italy were gaining more land (would help peasants)
Italy seized all naval ports and although the Libyans did not think of the Italians as liberators, the Italians captured 13 Turkish islands in the Aegean Sea so Turkey was unable to continue the war
This was a resounding Italian victory that had overcome the shame of Adwa and a true European superpower - galvanised ANI support at first
