The given article from The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism by Benito Mussolini highlights the political and social changes in Italy post World War I. Like other participant countries Italy had to face the repercussions of war despite of being a member of the winning allies. Economic upheavals like unemployment, depression and rising prices shook the entire economy. Benito Mussolini was an Italian; he was proud of winning the war. Benito was earlier a big supporter of Socialism and envied the rich. He favoured the armed struggle and was against some of the socialists who wanted peace. Amid a debt ridden economy; the people of Italy wanted a revolution. The labourers were at strike and were continuously in disagreement with the government. Mussolini learned from the prevailing conditions and changed his stance; laid the foundation of fascism in Italy.
Fascism is an ideology that supports extreme right wing ideology; it is an authoritarian and nationalist form of government. Mussolini was proactive to foresee the change that was required in Italy. Earlier he was an ardent supporter of socialism and war but later he supported the concept of Fascism. According to him “The Fascist accepts life and loves it.” (Benito Mussolini, The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism, Pg 230-231).The Socialists lost and were intimidated by the Fascist supporters; they made sure to destroy the socialists and their offices. Mussolini was successful in reviving the Italian economy and modernised hydroelectricity and railways. The Church also gave its approval to Mussolini; as he had made an agreement with the Catholic Church. The development of people was more important than the political motives according to the Fascist doctrine; it is a complete opposite of the Marxist Socialism. Socialism was about creating an un-alienated man who was independent of any political regime; the individual is not a subordinate to the state. Fascism was against any economic motive; it denounced any materialistic happiness and stressed on total well being.
The Fascists were against the democratic set up as in democracy the entire economy is controlled by the government with little public involvement. The decision making is done by a majority in the government; this can lead to biased and unequal decisions as the other parties veto gets lost in the majority decision process. In the twentieth century the fascist doctrine gained importance over Socialism, Democracy and Liberalism. Fascism combined the best of the above doctrines and paved way for collectivism where the ownership and means of production would be controlled by the state or the people. The principle it followed was giving a group priority over the individuals in it.
Fascism was a wave of relief for the people and the Italian economy when it needed the most. The economy benefitted and so did the people. The Fascist movement combined the employers, state, mangers and workers within a same legal framework. The Church, army, government and the common people were supposed to strengthen the state power in the national interest. The State was the ultimate authority in the country and plays an important role in all round development of people guided by ethics. It attained the position of a universal faith that controlled and guided the actions of its followers. All the earlier doctrines indirectly served as inspiration for Fascism as it imbibed some of the universal thought processes and became the most popular doctrine in the twentieth century.
Works Cited
Mussolini, Benito. The Political and Social Doctrine of Fascism. The Doctrine of Fascism. International Conciliation. Januray, 1935. Pg 230-231.
