World War I and aftermath (1914–1922) Fascism and ideology

russian bolsheviks shortly after october revolution of 1917, whom italian fascists praised, 1919 had become violently anti-bolshevik , fascists politically benefited fear of communist revolution promising radical alternative forcibly stop communist class revolution , resolve class differences

a major event influenced development of fascism october revolution of 1917 in bolshevik communists led vladimir lenin seized power in russia. in 1917, mussolini leader of fasci of revolutionary action praised october revolution, mussolini later became unimpressed lenin, regarding him merely new version of tsar nicholas. after world war i, fascists have commonly campaigned on anti-marxist agendas. nonetheless, mussolini during fascist revolutionary party (pfr) leadership determined war communism leading economic collapse instead of productive proletarian state. reversing position, mussolini criticized lenin s actions failing uphold marxist principles, writing colleague negation of socialism because had not created dictatorship of proletariat or of socialist party, of few intellectuals had found secret of winning power .

generally, both bolshevism , fascism hold ideological similarities: both advocate revolutionary ideology, both believe in necessity of vanguard elite, both have disdain bourgeois values , both had totalitarian ambitions. in practice, fascism , bolshevism have commonly emphasized revolutionary action, proletarian nation theories, one-party states , party-armies. former prime minister of italy francesco saverio nitti observed same bolshevik-fascist parallels in 1927, writing under mussolini s regime there greater tolerance displayed toward communists affiliated moscow liberals, democrats, , socialists . mussolini had become verse in marxism after being tutored angelica balabanoff , associating leon trotsky , lenin during stay in switzerland 1902 1904.

with antagonism between anti-interventionist marxists , pro-interventionist fascists complete end of war, 2 sides became irreconcilable. fascists presented anti-marxists , opposed marxists. nonetheless, mussolini briefly referred himself lenin of italy during 1919 election, fascist revolutionary party attempted out-socialist socialists . mussolini consolidated control on fascist movement in 1919 founding of fasci italiani di combattimento, opposition non-nationalistic socialism declared:

we declare war against socialism, not because socialism, because has opposed nationalism. although can discuss question of socialism is, program, , tactics, 1 thing obvious: official italian socialist party has been reactionary , absolutely conservative. if views had prevailed, our survival in world of today impossible.

in 1919, alceste de ambris , futurist movement leader filippo tommaso marinetti created manifesto of italian fasci of combat (also known fascist manifesto). manifesto presented on 6 june 1919 in fascist newspaper il popolo d italia. manifesto supported creation of universal suffrage both men , women (the latter being realized partly in late 1925, opposition parties banned or disbanded); proportional representation on regional basis; government representation through corporatist system of national councils of experts, selected professionals , tradespeople, elected represent , hold legislative power on respective areas, including labour, industry, transportation, public health, communications, etc.; , abolition of italian senate. manifesto supported creation of eight-hour work day workers, minimum wage, worker representation in industrial management, equal confidence in labour unions in industrial executives , public servants, reorganization of transportation sector, revision of draft law on invalidity insurance, reduction of retirement age 65 55, strong progressive tax on capital, confiscation of property of religious institutions , abolishment of bishoprics , revision of military contracts allow government seize 85% of profits. called creation of short-service national militia serve defensive duties, nationalization of armaments industry , foreign policy designed peaceful competitive.

residents of fiume cheer arrival of gabriele d annunzio , blackshirt-wearing nationalist raiders, d annunzio , fascist alceste de ambris developed quasi-fascist italian regency of carnaro (a city-state in fiume) 1919 1920 , actions d annunzio in fiume inspired italian fascist movement

the next events influenced fascists raid of fiume italian nationalist gabriele d annunzio , founding of charter of carnaro in 1920. d annunzio , de ambris designed charter, advocated national-syndicalist corporatist productionism alongside d annunzio s political views. many fascists saw charter of carnaro ideal constitution fascist italy. behaviour of aggression towards yugoslavia , south slavs pursued italian fascists persecution of south slavs – slovenes , croats.

in 1920, militant strike activity industrial workers reached peak in italy, 1919 , 1920 known red years . mussolini, former union organizer, still @ moment displaying himself left-wing extremist applauded strikes . , squads of blackshirts involved in number of creative strikes in factories such metallurgical plant franchi e gregorini @ dalmine, support contingent upon workers had seized factories possessing collective capacity maintain production . fascists offered no special sanctity private property, production along worker s jobs secure. moreover, during volatile period mussolini s squads not organizing , participating in worker strikes engaged in armed attacks against church several priests assassinated , churches burned fascists . october 1920, mussolini sensed profound change in mood of proletarian , professing working masses no longer interested in expropriation of industrial capitalists, favored solving problem of production. moreover, mussolini maintained orthodox socialists had betrayed proletariat , declared official italian socialist party has been reactionary , absolutely conservative . seeking new opportunities fascist syndicalism , mussolini turned away orthodox socialist organizations, assembled violence-prone militia , employed pretense of saving italy bolshevism, although possibility had ceased threat . about-face orthodox socialists lead mussolini , fascists ally various industrial businesses , attack socialist party activists , labor organizers in name of preserving order , internal peace in italy.

nonetheless, mussolini, played both sides increase political influence, had issued open threat in 1921 if italian government attempted suppress fascists, might move other extreme , join communists in revolutionary action . in book 1927 book, bolshevism, fascism , democracy, francesco saverio nitti observed mussolini cloaking true bolshevik leanings since had retained great admiration bolshevism, though presented himself public antidote bolshevism .

fascists identified primary opponents socialists on left had opposed intervention in world war i. fascists , rest of italian political right held common ground: both held marxism in contempt, discounted class consciousness , believed in rule of elites. fascists assisted anti-socialist campaign allying other parties , conservative right in mutual effort destroy italian socialist party , labour organizations committed class identity above national identity. in 1921, mussolini joined political alliance giovanni giolitti, italy s prime minister , leader of italian liberal party considered left-wing liberal, due progressive social reforms , nationalization of private telephone , railroad operators. alliance liberals , others helped mussolini acquire authority, respectability , freedom arrest . in july 1921, mussolini suggested different coalition include fascists, socialists , populari. called pact of pacification , mussolini signed agreement italian socialist party on 2 or 3 august 1921, both unpopular , short-lived. 1 reason mussolini’s signing of peace pact italian socialist party aspiration rename party “fascist labor party” , avoid possibility of taking “categorically antileftist position”. however, @ third fascist congress in rome on 7–10 november 1921 traditional faction of revolutionary syndicalists , national socialists outvoted new majority of squadristi leaders, pressured mussolini rename party national fascist party , reorganize “association of fasci , storm squads”.

between 1922–1925, fascism sought accommodate italian liberal party, conservatives , nationalists under italy s coalition government, major alterations political agenda made—alterations such abandoning previous populism, republicanism , anticlericalism—and adopting policies of economic liberalism under alberto de stefani, center party member italy s minister of finance until dismissed mussolini after imposition of single-party dictatorship in 1925. fascist regime accepted roman catholic church , monarchy institutions in italy. appeal italian conservatives, fascism adopted policies such promoting family values, including promotion policies designed reduce number of women in workforce limiting woman s role of mother. in effort expand italy s population facilitate mussolini s future plans control mediterranean region, fascists banned literature on birth control , increased penalties abortion in 1926, declaring both crimes against state. though fascism adopted number of positions designed appeal reactionaries, fascists sought maintain fascism s revolutionary character, angelo oliviero olivetti saying fascism conservative, [be] being revolutionary . fascists supported revolutionary action , committed secure law , order appeal both conservatives , syndicalists.

prior fascism s accommodation of political right, fascism small, urban, northern italian movement had thousand members. after fascism s accommodation of political right, fascist movement s membership soared approximately 250,000 1921.