Benito Mussolini formed Italian fascist party in the year 1919 when Italy was stuck in a variety of turbulences after emerging victorious in the First World War. Italy witnessed an era of weak governments, economic instability and also faced crucial threat from leftists. Mussolini was an ultra nationalistic who influenced a majority of Italian population that he can effectively deal with every situation including growing leftism. Mussolini led a huge march to the Rome in 1922 and King Emanuel III had no option but to invite him to form a government.
After taking over the government, Mussolini annihilated all his opponents and imposed his political views on the Italy. Under Mussolini, Italy turned towards fascism and became the first fascist state of the Europe. Mussolini did not believe in traditional way of democracy, freedom and socialism. He had his own interpretations of humanity, democracy, liberalism and authoritarianism. Mussolini reshaped political and economic policies of Italy. In fascist Italy, the power was absolutely centralised where each and everything was under direct control of the state (Mussolini 7-17).
Mussolini strengthened his influence among Italian youngsters by propagating nationalism. Fascism discards conventional democratic ideas. Mussolini never believed that democracy is a rule of majority. He always believed that his ideas are only solemn for the Italy whether people like them or not. He also tried to pacify the anger of unemployed youngsters by introducing a number of improvements in industrial and agricultural sector. Unlike socialism and Marxism, fascism believed in holiness, as well as, heroism in every sector. Mussolini’s fascist policies were always in contradiction of conventional liberalism whether it was political or social (Mussolini 7-17).
It can be a matter of discussion whether Benito Mussolini and his fascist ideology changed the Italy in a positive way or not, but there is no doubt in saying that his ideology affected the democratic setup in a negative way. Fascism does not believe in the rule of majority. Fascist ideology believes in taking decisions even if it is against the mandate of majority of people. Such an ideology is dangerous for civilised society and poses serious threats to democratic setup. Fascism also does not believe in basic ideas of democracy like liberalism and decentralization.
Mussolini intended to create a society that was full of patriotism. He was against any kind of compromises and always believed in solving issues through dominance and war. Such ideas are not in the longer interests of the society. On the basis of his beliefs only, Mussolini became one of the closest allies of Adolph Hitler. Hitler also believed in similar ideology and both of them fought the Second World War as closest allies. Mussolini and Hitler believed in similar ideas of holiness and heroism. Both of them did not hesitate in slaughtering people for the sake of their ideology, but at the end of the day, they came to very painful end. In today’s civilised world, fascism has become absolutely irrelevant because of its contradicting ideas. Fascism does not believe in democracy and its ideas. However it is an established fact that democracy is the only system that can present a better solution of all problems and at the same time, it can address the concerns of a majority of people of this world.
Work Cited
Mussolini, Benito. The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism: International Conciliation, Volumes 306-315. USA: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1935. Print.
