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Flashcards in consolidating power Deck (14)
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1
Q

how did Mussolini succeed in increasing his own popularity?

A
  • cult of Il Duce sustained myth of regime
  • propaganda in all medias
  • 30 million pictures of him circulated
  • appears a dynamic leader
2
Q

how did Mussolini fail to increase his own popularity?

A

-image harder to sustain as he gets older
-less popular after 1935
-focus on one leader rather than an ideology will not outlive him
(-at expense of own party)

3
Q

how did Mussolini succeed in controlling the Italian people?

A
  • only 9 death sentences
  • Bocchini and OVRA broke up antifascist organisation
  • 5000 informers
  • OND: 4m members by 1939
  • press censorship (Avanti! banned)
  • confino threat
  • 1937 ministry of popular culture
4
Q

how did Mussolini fail to control the Italian people?

A
  • solvenes
  • can’t reach south
  • con’t control what people think/believe. Only participate because it benefits them
  • ministry of pop culture not sophisticated
5
Q

how did Mussolini succeed in creating a nation of loyal fascists?

A
  • ONB indoctrinates youth
  • idea of second ceasar
  • teachers had to be part of PNF
  • 1929 centralised education and youth groups
  • by 1937 fascist youth organisations had over 7m members
  • 1937 1m attend exhibition of Roman history
  • 1934 and 1938 football world cups
6
Q

how did Mussolini fail to create a nation of loyal fascists?

A
  • cult of Il Duce separates Mussolini and fascism
  • OND does not aim to indoctrinate
  • 87% of box office takings are from Hollywood films
  • youth formed antifascist organisations
  • in south, few studied past the compulsory age
  • less girls took part than boys
7
Q

how did Mussolini compromise with the king (Victor Emmanuel III)?

A
  • Italy remained a constitutional monarchy with the king as head of state
  • king refused to put fascist symbol on flag and spoke out against anti-Semitic decrees
8
Q

how did Mussolini fail to compromise with the king (Victor Emmanuel III)?

A
  • slowly reduced the kings power e.g. June 1940 took complete control of the military
  • king was happy to play subservient
9
Q

how did Mussolini compromise with the conservative elites?

A

ARMY: allowed it to be run independently

  • M was minister for war but left the running of armed forces to undersecretaries
  • ambitious generals realised being pro-fascist would get them a promotion

CIVIL SERVICE: had to be PNF members by 1935

  • rewarded loyalty
  • membership of PNF increased in 1920s
10
Q

how did Mussolini fail to compromise with the conservative elites?

A
  • JUDICIARY: purged judges who were too independent or did not support fascism
  • M occasionally intervened on verdicts and sentences
11
Q

how did Mussolini compromise with the central government?

A

-left the senate completely unchanged (gets conservative elites on side)

12
Q

how did Mussolini fail to compromise with the central government?

A
  • Dec 1925 became head of government
  • opposition parties banned
  • parliament lost most abilities
  • electorate shrank and results were rigged
  • FGC in reality had little influence
13
Q

how did Mussolini compromise with local governments?

A

-traditional position of prefect as highest state authority in each province remained

14
Q

how did Mussolini fail to compromise with local governments?

A
  • placed in hands of the conservative elite
  • local self government abolished
  • appointed by Mussolini to ensure loyalty
  • ras were angry that podesta got to run local councils