| BENITO MUSSOLINI |
|
|
| Benito Mussolini rose to power
in Italy rapidly. Accompanied by his Fascist cohorts, the BlackShirts,
Mussolini marched on Rome in 1922 and seized the government for the Fascist
Party. Italy's monarch, Emmanuel III, capitulated to the Fascists
and their sympathizers. Consequently, Emmanuel III named Mussolini
Prime Minister of Italy; however, Mussolini soon became the dictator of
Italy. A strong leadership which embodies the Fascist philosophy
is characteristic of Fascism. Indeed, Mussolini as dictator, was
indicative of a strong leadership. Mussolini has been quoted in reference
to Fascist philosophy. The following quotation helps in part to identify
Italian Fascism
"Given that the nineteenth century was the century of Socialism, of Liberalism, and of Democracy, it does not necessarily follow that the twentieth century must also be a century of Socialism, Liberalism and Democracy: political doctrines pass, but humanity remains, and it may rather be expected that this will be a century of authority ... a century of Fascism. For if the nineteenth century was a century of individualism it may be expected that this will be the century of collectivism and hence the century of the State." Benito Mussolini source: "Fascism," Italian Encyclopedia, 1932 According to the previous quotation, Mussolini thought that Fascism must be the political system of the twentieth century. For Mussolini, Fascism was not tantamount to any political doctrine, such as Socialism. Rather, Fascism extolled an authoritarian political system that promoted the supremacy of the State. Italian Fascism aimed to make the State an organic entity. The State encouraged collective activity, not individualism. The value of the solitary individual was worthless, but the value of the individual was measured in relation to the individual's activity or productivity in the State. To say that the state is an organic entity, is to claim that the whole (State) is supreme to its constituent parts (individuals). Mussolini wanted to build the State and promote its power, and he called people to emotional action. Perhaps, Mussolini was an opportunist in the sense that he appealed to the irrational passions of the discontented in order to gain power. Mussolini could not stand stagnation, for stagnation would lead to imminent destruction; therefore, activity, often violence, was used to created change. |