What was the nature and importance of Mussolini's relationship with Italy's political and economic elite?

Question 1

Monarchy

Answer 1

• As Italy remained a constitutional monarchy until Sept 1943, Mussolini couldn’t completely ignore the political wishes of the king in order to maintain power.
• Changed his radical, anti-monarchy policies from his 1919 Programme and compromised to help his consolidation of power to gain acceptance of the fascist dictatorship among the armed forces and state administration.

Question 2

How did the monarchy grow weaker as his dictatorship grew stronger?

Answer 2

• Slowly eroded some of the king’s powers.
• Dec 1928 = Fascist Grand Council could nominate future PMs and advise the king on future royal successions.
• March 1938 = law passed, creating the title of First Marshal of the Empire to Mussolini and the king (previously the King was supreme military commander).
• June 1940 = upon entering WWII, Mussolini deprived the king of role as supreme military commander and instead took complete control of the military.

Question 3

Constitutional powers and the king’s submissive attitude

Answer 3

• King remained head of state with sole power to remove Mussolini but he made little effort to prevent or minimise the erosion of Italy’s constitutional democracy, for example regarding the racist and unpopular anti-Semitic decrees.
• By 1938, leading Italian lawyers called for a constitution that reflected the fascist state - evidence that M was working towards removal of the monarchy.
• The relationship was a balancing act that suited both of them in respect to their positions in the dictatorship.

Question 4

Relations with the conservative elite

Answer 4

• Willing to collaborate to cement and retain his power.
• Largely unchanged legal system = judges retained their independence from the party but many joined the PNF to ensure they retained their positions.
• Allowed the military to run independently = Mussolini held positions of war minister but left the running to the under-secretaries (generals or admirals).
• Mostly unchanged govt admin - removed some civil servants due to anti-fascist political ties and majority of top admin posts in ministries were held by career civil servants.
• Critically, the traditional retained political influence through the new podestas.

Question 5

Was the relations to conservative elites always sustained?

Answer 5

• Crucial to maintain his power as he gained power thanks to the backing of the industrial and agricultural elite who looked to fascism to protect their status/prevent socialism.
• Apparent harmony masked some discontent - some business leaders grew concerned about the state of the economy in the 1930s and the pro-Nazi direction of the regime = transferred their money out of the country.
• M relied on large landowners, as well as industrialists, as their grain would fulfil his aim of a self-sufficient Italy and their established influence in the South = invested money in the landowners and gave the south large subsidies and funding for land reclamation schemes (draining of lakes and marshes).

Question 6

Relationship with Central Government

Answer 6

• Wanted to be the ultimate political authority with govt figures as his loyal servants - dramatically changed structure through the Law of Dec 1925.
• Became the head of govt with no cabinet style of leadership - held several of the key ministerial positions.
• Stripped Parli of its powers - unable to debate policy in 1926, despite already banning opposition parties. In 1928, parli would consist of 400 deputies chosen by the Fascist Grand Council from a list nominated by fascist public bodies.
• GFC was to approve all major matters of govt and party police but it had little power - Musso retained the power to appoint the top PNF leaders and set out the laws to be debated. No consultation on major policies (relations with the Church 1929 or Italy’s entry in WWII in 1940).
• Senate unchanged with members appt for life by the king (accommodating the existing political elite). Over time, Mussolini could create a greater fascist presence in the Senate by ensuring all new senators were fascists.

Question 7

Relationship with Local Government

Answer 7

• ‘Prefect’ position, highest state authority remained. Held by career civil servants that didn’t conform to the ras’ hope for reform and control of these positions.
• Appointed by Mussolini and all province (except for Rome) were ran by a podesta, an mayor appted by the prefect and given to the conservative elite.
• Organised the police, censorship of the local press, implementing the suppression of anti-fascist activity and reporting on the local fascist branches to allow M to control PNF activity.
• Local govt - not controlled by the fascist party but they ultimately owed their position to M, ensuring they would carry out his political policies.

Question 8

Relations with the Army

Answer 8

• Essential to have military support, who welcomed the retention of the monarchy, if he were to pursue his dreams of creating a ‘New Roman Empire’.
• Gifted generals their request to run the military themselves - happy upon receiving some control over the Fascist Militia which they feared would swallow up the regular army.
• Despite encouraging soldiers and officers to join the PNF - not large takeup.

Question 9

Relations with the nationalists

Answer 9

• Nationalists held large sway of the public - easily dismantled their opposition by merging the PNF with the ANI in 1923 as they both shared similar agendas.
• Benefited Muss as the acquisition of nationalist support helped spread the Fascist message in the South.
• The Nationalist Militia, 80K strong ‘Blueshirts’ were also absorbed into the Milita, ending any potential threat.

Question 10

Economic interest Groups

Answer 10

• Palazzo Vidoni Pact (Oct 1925) = industry will only negotiate with fascist trade unions, rendering others useless.
• Prominent syndicalists argued that the fascist syndicates should be the basis of the state, while corporations (employer+employee) would co-run the economy, ensuring the regulation of big businesses in worker’s interest and stop industrial unrest. Concerned the conservative industrial elites as Musso didn’t aim to alienate them.
• Aimed to implement a Corporate State (Ministry set up in July 1926) - organising the industry into different Economic Interest Groups represented by a few individuals responsible for production and working conditions to avoid the bitter class struggles between the workers and employers in France and Britain.
• HOWEVER - Corps dominated by Fascist representatives and discussions were made in accordance with il Duce’s plans for the economy, rather than the worker’s wishes.

Question 11

What is the Rocco Laws (April 1926).

Answer 11

• Banned strikes, go-slows and lock-outs.
• Allowed syndicates some rights of representation and compulsory arbitration of disputes concerning workers’ pay and conditions at special tribunals.
• Welcomed by industrial interest groups.

Question 12

What happened during the international economic slump of the 1930s?

Answer 12

• Govt pursued policies that supported big businesses and wage cuts for workers, favouring big industry (Montecantini and ILVA) and landowners’s interests.
• Clearly, the richer industrial and agricultural interest groups were the main benefactors while workers’ interests were subsidary. Little benefit for peasants and small landowners and workers saw their wages reduced below the cost of living from 1927.