What was the nature and importance of Mussolini’s relationship with Italy’s political and economic elite?
Group How M tried to control + how much it changed Extent to which the group resisted/ was a threat to M
The KING – (had the power to remove Mussolini, agreement KING – Italy was a constitutional monarchy. played a
monarchy + with king was important for M consolidation of power subservient role to M. no effort to prevent the
conservative armed forces and state administration all held implementation of racist and unpopular antisemitic
elite considerable loyalty and respect towards the king) decrees 1938.
1928 – fascist grand council granted the However, didn’t allow army to make fascist salute +
constitutional right to limit the king’s power to refused to allow fascist symbol to be incorporated into the
nominate future prime ministers of Italy and to Italian flag.
advise the king on any future royal succession.
March 1938 – law passed creating a title of
First Marshal of the Empire, highest rank in
military hierarchy, given to king and M
(previously the king had been supreme military
commander)
1940 – Italy entered the second world war, M
deprived king of supreme military commander
and took control of the whole military.
However, M did give him additional titles and
dominions e.g., emperor of Ethiopia 1936
JUDICIARY – purged of some undesirable elements,
imprisonment without trial, only fascist judges
CIVIL SERVANTS – highest state authority in each Italian
province remained prefect, who, in most cases were
civil servants not fascists.
- Only 15% were fascist 1927
ARMED FORCES – left running to under-secretaries. But
expanded armed forces + aggressive foreign policy
- Leading members gave their loyalty to M. had the
potential to replace M by a coup
CONSERVATIVE ELITES – able to retain political influence
through the podesta. Powerful positions typically held
by elderly conservatives thus old ruling class was able
to find accommodation with fascism, retaining positions
of power within the political system.
Central and CENTRAL – laws of December 1925 changed the Grand Council had little influence, no consultation on
local structure of government, M taken on new position as major policies e.g., accommodation with catholic church
government head of government = only accountable to king not 1929 or Italy’s entry into second world war 1940.
parliament. He alone could decide what parliament
could discuss and only M could initiate legislation. M chose to leave the senate whose members were
Free elections ended and opposition political parties appointed for life by the king. 1932, 148 senators were
banned. not members of the PNF.
- May 1928, parliament made up of 400 deputies
chosen by fascist grand council from a list of
1,000 candidates. Example of M accommodating the existing political elite
- December 1928 – Grand council role was in order to cement his dictatorship
formalised in the constitution as the most
important legal body in the state. (on paper
significant move as provided the constitutional
Local government was placed in the hands of conservative
framework for PNF to retain power even after
elite and civil servants; however, they did ultimately owe
M dies)
their position to Mussolini.
LOCAL – local councils appointed within each province
were run by podesta, who were appointed by the
prefect. Typically, conservative elites.
Group How M tried to control + how much it changed Extent to which the group resisted/ was a threat to M
The KING – (had the power to remove Mussolini, agreement KING – Italy was a constitutional monarchy. played a
monarchy + with king was important for M consolidation of power subservient role to M. no effort to prevent the
conservative armed forces and state administration all held implementation of racist and unpopular antisemitic
elite considerable loyalty and respect towards the king) decrees 1938.
1928 – fascist grand council granted the However, didn’t allow army to make fascist salute +
constitutional right to limit the king’s power to refused to allow fascist symbol to be incorporated into the
nominate future prime ministers of Italy and to Italian flag.
advise the king on any future royal succession.
March 1938 – law passed creating a title of
First Marshal of the Empire, highest rank in
military hierarchy, given to king and M
(previously the king had been supreme military
commander)
1940 – Italy entered the second world war, M
deprived king of supreme military commander
and took control of the whole military.
However, M did give him additional titles and
dominions e.g., emperor of Ethiopia 1936
JUDICIARY – purged of some undesirable elements,
imprisonment without trial, only fascist judges
CIVIL SERVANTS – highest state authority in each Italian
province remained prefect, who, in most cases were
civil servants not fascists.
- Only 15% were fascist 1927
ARMED FORCES – left running to under-secretaries. But
expanded armed forces + aggressive foreign policy
- Leading members gave their loyalty to M. had the
potential to replace M by a coup
CONSERVATIVE ELITES – able to retain political influence
through the podesta. Powerful positions typically held
by elderly conservatives thus old ruling class was able
to find accommodation with fascism, retaining positions
of power within the political system.
Central and CENTRAL – laws of December 1925 changed the Grand Council had little influence, no consultation on
local structure of government, M taken on new position as major policies e.g., accommodation with catholic church
government head of government = only accountable to king not 1929 or Italy’s entry into second world war 1940.
parliament. He alone could decide what parliament
could discuss and only M could initiate legislation. M chose to leave the senate whose members were
Free elections ended and opposition political parties appointed for life by the king. 1932, 148 senators were
banned. not members of the PNF.
- May 1928, parliament made up of 400 deputies
chosen by fascist grand council from a list of
1,000 candidates. Example of M accommodating the existing political elite
- December 1928 – Grand council role was in order to cement his dictatorship
formalised in the constitution as the most
important legal body in the state. (on paper
significant move as provided the constitutional
Local government was placed in the hands of conservative
framework for PNF to retain power even after
elite and civil servants; however, they did ultimately owe
M dies)
their position to Mussolini.
LOCAL – local councils appointed within each province
were run by podesta, who were appointed by the
prefect. Typically, conservative elites.
