Propaganda and the cult of personality Flashcards
What had made M first come to national attention?
His position as editor of a propagandist newspaper, Il Popolo d’Italia
What was he determined to use propaganda to do?
Build up support for the regime and deter opposition
What was he anxious to control?
The news
How did he do this?
In 1926 opposition newspapers were suppressed, and journalists and editors were made aware that they could be arrested if they published anything derogatory towards the regime. M’s own press office issued official versions of events which newspapers were expected to publish without question
What other forms of media became tools for fascist propaganda?
Radio and cinema
How many radio sets were there in Italy by the mid 1920s?
Around 40,000
What happened to the radio network in 1924?
It was run by the state
What were news bulletins used to do?
Continually praise M and broadcast his speeches in full
How did the state try to increase the amount of radios in use?
Radios were given to schools and by the 1930s the party was trying to ensure that even those living in rural areas could at least listen to communal radios in their villages
What was the regime slow to make?
Propagandist feature films
What had to be done as a result?
US Hollywood films dominated Italian screens with each of them being preceded by a short newsreel which gave the fascist version of current events
What did the media play a crucial role in creating?
The cult of the duce
What was the cult intended to do?
Build popular support for M and overawe political opponents by stressing his superhuman talents
How was M portrayed?
As not just another politician but as Italy’s saviour, a man chosen by destiny to save the country from the socialist menace and corrupt democratic politicians and to restore Italian greatness. He was portrayed as a new Caesar: a man of genius, action and culture, a statesman of world renown dedicated only to the revival of Italy
What was the regime doing by 1926?
Using all methods of propaganda at its disposal to convey its message
What did government controlled newspapers stress?
M’s benevolence
What did they take particular pride in reporting?
Quoting the opinions of foreign admirers, particularly if they were leading statesmen
What was the British foreign secretary, Austen Chamberlain, widely reported as saying?
That M was ‘a wonderful man working for the greatness of his country’
What was Churchill reported as saying in 1927?
That M’s ‘sole thought was the lasting well-being of the Italian people as he sees it’
What stories were used to highlight his apparent dedication to Italy?
The idea that he toiled for up to 20 hours a day on government business
What was done to prove this?
The light was left on in his study for most of the night to back up this claim and disguise the fact that he usually retired to bed quite early
What phrase became popular in the press as proof of M’s infallability?
‘M is always right’
What kind of things would M say to encourage this idea?
‘Often I would like to be wrong, but so far it has never happened and events have always turned out just as I foresaw’
What did M do to maintain this impression?
He was quick to claim credit for any successes and still quicker to blame others for any mistakes
