Doctrine Italian Fascism

giovanni gentile: philosophic father of italian fascism

the doctrine of fascism (la dottrina del fascismo, 1932) actualist philosopher giovanni gentile official formulation of italian fascism, published under benito mussolini s name in 1933. gentile intellectually influenced hegel, plato, benedetto croce , giambattista vico, actual idealism philosophy basis fascism. hence, doctrine s weltanschauung proposes world action in realm of humanity — beyond quotidian constrictions of contemporary political trend, rejecting perpetual peace fantastical , accepting man species continually @ war; meet challenge, achieve nobility. wit, actual idealism accepted conquerors men of historical consequence, e.g. roman julius caesar, greek alexander great, frank charlemagne , french napoleon. philosopher–intellectual gentile inspired roman empire (27 bc – ad 476, 1453), whence derives fascism:

in 1925, mussolini assumed title duce (leader), derived latin dux ( leader ), roman republic military-command title. moreover, although fascist italy (1922–1943) historically considered authoritarian–totalitarian dictatorship, retained original liberal democratic government façade: grand council of fascism remained active administrators; , king victor emmanuel iii of italy could—at risk of crown—dismiss mussolini italian prime minister, in event did.

gentile defined fascism anti-intellectual doctrine, epistemologically based on faith rather reason. fascist mysticism emphasized importance of political myths, true not empirical facts, metareality . fascist art, architecture , symbols constituted process converted fascism sort of civil religion or political religion. la dottrina del fascismo states fascism religious conception of life , forms spiritual community in contrast bourgeois materialism. slogan credere obbedire combattere ( believe, obey, fight ) reflects importance of political faith in fascism.

emblem of national fascist party

according historian zeev sternhell, syndicalist leaders among founders of fascist movement , in later years gained key posts in mussolini s regime. mussolini expressed great admiration ideas of georges sorel, claimed instrumental in birthing core principles of italian fascism. j.l. talmon argued fascism billed not alternative, heir socialism .

la dottrina del fascismo proposed italy of greater living standards under one-party fascist system under multi-party liberal democratic government of 1920. leader of national fascist party (pnf, partito nazionale fascista), mussolini said democracy beautiful in theory; in practice, fallacy , spoke of celebrating burial of putrid corpse of liberty . in 1923, give deputy mussolini control of pluralist parliamentary government of kingdom of italy (1861–1946), economist, baron giacomo acerbo, proposed – , italian parliament approved – acerbo law, changing electoral system proportional representation majority representation. party received votes (provided possessed @ least 25 per cent of cast votes) won two-thirds of parliament; remaining third proportionately shared among other parties – fascist manipulation of liberal democratic law rendered italy one-party state.

in 1924, pnf won election 65 per cent of votes, yet united socialist party refused accept such defeat – deputy giacomo matteotti, on 30 may 1924 in parliament formally accused pnf of electoral fraud , reiterated denunciations of pnf blackshirt political violence , publishing fascisti exposed: year of fascist domination, book substantiating accusations. consequently on 24 june 1924, ceka (ostensibly party secret police, modelled on soviet cheka) assassinated matteotti , of 5 men arrested, amerigo dumini, known il sicario del duce ( leader s assassin ), sentenced 5 years imprisonment, served eleven months , freed under amnesty king victor emmanuel iii. moreover, when king supported prime minister mussolini socialists quit parliament in protest, leaving fascists govern unopposed. in time, assassination not yet modus operandi norm , italian fascist duce disposed of opponents in imperial roman way: political arrest punished island banishment.