Mussolini's Political Policies
Between 1922 and 1943, Benito Mussolini was prime minister and dictator of Italy. The leader of the National Fascist Party, Mussolini is considered one of the founders of the political ideology known as fascism.
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Origins
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During the social disorder that followed World War I, Mussolini and other veterans formed "Fasci di combattimento" (Combat League), a paramilitary organization that supported nationalism and opposed socialists and communists. Dressed in black shirts, they clashed with rival movements and sought to bring order by force. In 1921, Mussolini was elected to parliament and organized his followers into the National Fascist Party.
Government
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In 1922, Mussolini's followers marched on Rome. The king welcomed them into the city and commanded Mussolini to form a government. Mussolini's government was based on statism, corporatism and nationalism.
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Statism
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Mussolini outlined his views in an article titled "The Doctrine of Fascism." According to Mussolini, fascism opposed individualism and only accepted the individual as long as his actions and interests supported the state. The state, Mussolini believed, was the ultimate expression of human unity and nothing should exist outside of the state.
Corporatism
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Mussolini considered corporatism the "third way" between the excesses of both capitalism and socialism. Under corporatism, business owners and unions in each industry formed associations to address work hours, wages and other concerns. However, the government gave greater authority to the businessmen who had financed Mussolini's rise than to labor and forced workers to join fascist unions.
Nationalism
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The fascists considered modern Italy the successor to the Roman Empire, a view they expressed through the revival of "Mare Nostrum" (Our Sea), the Roman name for the Mediterranean Sea. Under Mussolini's rule, Italy engaged in military campaigns across the Mediterranean and North Africa that expanded its colonies and lead to Italian occupation of part of Greece and annexation of the Croatian seaport of Fiume. However, this expansion left Italy isolated, with Nazi Germany as its only supporter.
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