Intro To Fascist Economy

Question 1

Neither BM or any of the F hierarchy were economists- what did this mean?

Answer 1

That his promises were based on broad generalisations that contained little substance

Question 2

What did BM tell the senate in 1923?

Answer 2

“My ambition is this: to make the people of Italy strong, prosperous and free.”

Question 3

What oblique reference to the connection between the economy and the need to impose a F dictatorship, was made by BM?

Answer 3

“There’s freedom in times of prosperity which is not the freedom to be allowed in times of poverty”

Question 4

What did the F regime inherit?

Answer 4

The financial problems of the liberals

• very limited raw materials
• tradition of close industry-banks-state links
• limited literacy

Question 5

Italy’s involvement in WW1 created problems that still persisted in 1922…

Answer 5

• unemployment
• financial difficulties
• shortages

Question 6

What was Italy’s industry like in comparison to the rest of Europe?

Answer 6

It was proceeding at a slower pace

Question 7

What problems still remained in the south?

Answer 7

Backwardness and poverty

Question 8

What did Italy have?

Answer 8

A rising population

Question 9

What was the total population in 1911 and 1931?

Answer 9

1911- 35M

1931- 40M

Question 10

What was the total population in Rome in 1900 and 1950?

Answer 10

• 1900: 450k

- 1950: 1.7M

Question 11

What were BM’s twin aims?

Answer 11

To make Italy autarkic and develop the economy along lines that would allow it, in the long run, to:

1) achieve its full military potential
2) engage in a war of colonial conquest

Question 12

Aims

Answer 12

• to consolidate the pol system
• to make Italy economically self sufficient
• to provide the economic base for military might

Question 13

Key economic periods:

1) 1922 onwards

Answer 13

• economic recovery in Italy
• BM coming into office with no specific programme pursued traditional lib economic policies of lowering inflation, and limited govt intervention

Question 14

Key economic period:

2) 1927 onwards

Answer 14

• economy begins to weaken

- some of the pain is self inflicted due to the overvaluation of the lira

Question 15

Key economic period:

3) 1929 onwards

Answer 15

• hit by Great Depression
• BM responds with growing govt intervention to bail out industrialists
• efforts are made to establish the distinctly F CS.

Question 16

Key economic period:

4)1936 onwards

Answer 16

The economy is increasingly harmed by the stress on AUTARKY and the needs of war

Question 17

Why did the economy improve in the early years of Fascism?

Answer 17

• a general European economic recovery
• laissez-faire policies favouring industry
• the ending of the Socialist revolution, Enugu increased the confidence of the economic elite
• the weakening of TUs

Question 18

BM knew that the economy was significant for his longer term ambitions. What was his main issue?

Answer 18

Should he continue with these policies or follow the radical Fs who wanted a major reorganisation of the economy, along syndicalist lines?