Positive Take On Italys Position Before WW1 Flashcards
Positives argued by liberals of Italys position in 1914
-argued Italy made progress under their rule; better sense of patriotism through national military service and free primary education.
-experienced economic progress – GDP 61bn Lira 1895 to 92bn Lira 1915.
-food taxes reduced and foreign trade rose
-infrastructure improved – roads, railways, fresh drinking water supplies.
-joined Triple Alliance and established an empire in East Africa (Libya 1911)
-Liberals argued Italy had a robust political system – participation had been extended to see universal male suffrage by 1912.
-Political consensus reached between moderate Socialists and moderate Catholics (coalitions of the likes of Giolitti.)
Negative views on Liberal rule- Nationalists views and mass-emigration
*Nationalists frustrated by the lack of willingness to put Italy on the European political stage + embarrassed by defeat in Abyssinia 1896.
-Mass-emigration —>disgrace; emigrants should be employed to strengthen economy and join army.
-Liberalism had widened class gap due to incompetence. Angered by lack of an ‘Italian spirit’ and Liberals’ selfishness and personal ambitions.
Negative views on Liberal rule- Catholics
*Catholics divided over Liberalism; many struggled to support due to disregard towards Pope (1870).
-Predominantly Catholic south, poverty was rife – 0.01% population owned 50% of the land. Southerners accounted for majority of emigrants.
-Some hostile to the élite, uncompassionate Liberal politicians, whilst more conservative Catholics preferred Liberalism to Socialism.
-To represent Catholic views, Popolari was founded in January 1919.
Negative views on Liberal Rule- Political Instability
*Italy lacked political stability; economic North-South divide, increasing social tension between the bourgeoisie and proletariat classes + political divisions, as Italian politics was polarising; growing support for Socialism and Nationalism (extremes of the political spectrum)
-Liberals lost support when war broke (benefit of Socialists and Popolari) -Liberal regime not in danger of collapse, but was to see greater hostility and faced many challenges ahead, not least on deciding whether or not to enter war.
