Historians' views of fascist propaganda

Question 1

Mack Smith

Answer 1

Claims that Mussolini relied more on engendering popularity than using repression to manage his dictatorship

Question 2

Bosworth

Answer 2

Claims that there was a deep religious awe around the image that Mussolini created for himself

Question 3

Cassels

Answer 3

Mussolini’s calls for a new Italy played on the risorgimento spirit and the fact that Italy was still divided

Question 4

Gentile

Answer 4

• Claims that he filled the vacuum left behind by the decline of catholicism
• Claims that it was his poor military decision to invade Greece that cost him his popularity

Question 5

Duggan

Answer 5

Points towards the 1500 letters of admiration he received each day as evidence of his popularity

Question 6

Donovan

Answer 6

The people thought that any problems that arose were the fault of those around Mussolini and never Mussolini himself

Question 7

Whitford

Answer 7

Totalitarian art and architecture meant that the individual identity only had meaning in terms of the larger identity of the state

Question 8

Golomstock

Answer 8

Claims that fascist propaganda was much more focused on the carrot than the stick. The focus was on encouraging support rather than destroying opponents

Question 9

Fraquelli

Answer 9

There was no real consitency between the different cultural ideas promoted by the fascists