In assessing the extent to which Benito Mussolini established a totalitarian state in Italy before the outbreak of the Second World War, we are tasked with probing beneath the surface of the fascist façade and examining the machinations that underpinned the regime. The focus will be on the period of his rule from 1922, when Mussolini became the prime minister, until 1939, the advent of the war. We shall delve into his control over the various facets of society, from the political and legal framework to the economic, social, and cultural spheres. The views of Bosworth and Falasca-Zamponi, among others, will be evaluated, and their arguments weighed in the balance.
Bosworth points to the legal and political framework of Italy as the first measure of Mussolini's totalitarian establishment. From the moment Mussolini rose to power through the March on Rome in 1922, he progressively strangled democratic institutions and individual liberties in the country. The Acerbo Law of 1923, skewed the electoral system in favour of the Fascist Party, leading to their landslide victory in the 1924 elections. Bosworth argues that the murder of the socialist leader Giacomo Matteotti, who vociferously criticised the regime, and Mussolini's subsequent embrace of the crime, marked the final nail in the coffin of democratic pretences. From then on, the regime developed into a one-party state with the Fascist Grand Council at the helm, and the Special Tribunal for the Defence of the State suppressing dissent. Bosworth's argument seems compelling when considering these events, but it does ignore instances where Mussolini's power was challenged, and that despite his best efforts, the political structure was not entirely under his control.
Economically, the government took substantial measures to control Italy, yet as argued by Falasca-Zamponi, this was a mixed success. The Battle for Grain, launched in 1925, was an attempt to make Italy self-sufficient in grain production. The Battle for Lira in 1926 aimed at bolstering Italy's currency. However, these battles fell short of their goals, even causing economic problems like overproduction of grain and a lack of competitiveness in the international market due to an overvalued currency. Corporate State, another economic initiative of Mussolini, aimed at harmonising relations between workers and employers through state-controlled syndicates. While Falasca-Zamponi rightfully points out these efforts by Mussolini to extend state control over the economy, the lack of full success and control suggest a partial establishment of totalitarianism, but not a complete one.
The social and cultural spheres were no less significant in Mussolini's attempts to forge a totalitarian state. The regime sought to reshape Italian society according to fascist ideals and this encompassed various aspects. Gregor's analysis of Mussolini's social policies highlights the establishment of after-school fascist youth organisations that aimed to inculcate fascist ideologies in the younger generation. Similarly, the Fascist propaganda machine, under the supervision of Mussolini, controlled newspapers, radio, film and even the education curriculum to glorify the fascist regime, promote nationalism and loyalty to Mussolini. Gregor's viewpoint does validate the notion of Mussolini's state control. However, it should be noted that despite Mussolini's best efforts, his control over the social and cultural life was incomplete, as there remained areas of life where the state influence was minimal.
So, to what extent did Mussolini succeed in establishing a totalitarian state before the outbreak of the Second World War? The analyses of Bosworth, Falasca-Zamponi and Gregor illustrate that Mussolini did make significant strides in moulding Italy into a totalitarian state. Politically, he subdued the democratic processes and legally silenced opposition. Economically, he attempted to control major sectors, albeit with varying levels of success. Culturally and socially, he employed a range of tools to permeate society with his ideologies. However, one can argue that his control was never absolute. Pockets of resistance endured, his economic policies were less than fully successful, and his control over the cultural and social life was incomplete. Thus, while Mussolini did establish a semblance of totalitarianism, it was marked by inconsistencies and deficiencies, a fact that tempers our view of pre-war Italy as a fully totalitarian state under his rule.
