Table of contents |
2 Contents of the Fascist Manifesto 3 The Manifesto in Practice 4 Source text |
Origins of Italian Fascism
In the case of the Italian Fascist movement of Benito Mussolini, the classic definition applies to the latter part of its history. Its initial political stance - in the June 1919 Manifesto - includes, however, non-exclusively right wing elements.
Originally, the leading committee of the Fascist Movement included both former Socialist Party members (among them Mussolini himself) and nationalists. The resulting Manifesto, united in the common aim of overturning the existing system, reflects a clear compromise between these strands . Only subsequently did Mussolini establish outright leadership of the movement,
Given that Fascism is recognised (with a few exceptions) as being dictatorial, it is noteworthy that elements of the Manifesto call for wider democracy. What was enacted during two decades of Fascist government was quite contrary in substance. During 21 years of Fascist government, not all Manifesto pledges were achieved, and many were simply ignored; forgotten by the system. Interestingly, many elements were subsequently imposed by the Italian democratic republic during the post-Fascist era.
Politically, the Manifesto calls for:
Contents of the Fascist Manifesto
The Manifesto is divided into four sections, describing Fascist objectives in political, social, military and financial fields.
The National Councils would combine workers, professionals and employers. The concept was rooted in corporatist ideology and derived in part from Catholic church social doctrine,
At the time, the Senate, as the upper house of parliament, was elected by the wealthier citizens; with the practical agreement of the King. (It has been described as a sort of extended council of the Crown.)
In labour and social policy, the Manifesto calls for:
- an 8-hour day and a minimum wage
- involvement of workers' representatives in industry
- reorganisation of the transport sector
- revision of the draft law on invalidity insurance, and
- reduction of the retirement age from 65 to 55.
- creation of a short-service national militia with specifically defensive responsibilities
- armaments factories are to be nationalised (an echo of socialist doctrine), and
- a peaceful but competitive foreign policy.
- a heavy progressive tax on capital (envisaging a "partial expropriation" of concentrated wealth)
- expropriation of the property of religious congregations
- revision of all contracts for military provisions and
- sequestration of 85% of all war profits by the state.
The Manifesto in Practice
Of the Manifesto's proposals, the commitment to corporative organisation of economic interests which was to be the longest lasting. Far from becoming a medium of extended democracy, parliament became by law an exclusively Fascist-picked body in 1929; being replaced by the "Chamber of Corporations" a decade later.
Fascism's pacifist foreign policy ceased during its first year of Italian government. In September 1923, the Corfu crisis demonstrated the regime's willingness to use force internationally. Perhaps the greatest success of Fascist diplomacy was the Lateran Treaty of February 1929: which accepted the principle of non-interference in the affairs of the Church. This ended the 59 year old dispute between Italy and the Papacy.
Il manifesto dei fasci di combattimento
published in Il Popolo d'Italia (the newspaper directed by Mussolini) on June 6 1919
Italiani! Ecco il programma di un movimento genuinamente italiano. Rivoluzionario perché antidogmatico; fortemente innovatore antipregiudiziaiolo.
Per il problema politico:
Noi vogliamo:
Source text
Original Italian version
Per il problema sociale:
Noi vogliamo:
Per il problema militare:
Noi vogliamo:
Per il problema finanziario:
Noi vogliamo:
In II popolo d'Italia, 6 giugno 1919