How had Mussolini achieved the ideal Fascist state by 1939.

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How had Mussolini achieved the ideal Fascist state by 1939

When Mussolini was appointed Prime Minister in 1922 he set out to achieve a Fascist state where he had supreme power. His first concern was to consolidate power and it was from here the Italian state was shaped and changed to suit Mussolini's agenda and his ideal Fascist state.

Fascism did not have exact aims in its early days when it was being established, and so Mussolini improvised its practices as circumstances arose and changed to suit his convenience. However, the one principle that always stayed with the Fascists, and continued to be an important aspect of their party when in power, was the glorification of the State as expressed by Mussolini through the Government. Mussolini wanted a state where all citizens had complete obedience to him, and all must think and act alike in respect to it. Mussolini wanted real supremacy and would not accept a parliament democracy as the Italian form of Government as this meant people could have different views and aims for Italy.

Throughout Mussolini's role as leader he changed the Italian state and the way the Government was run; though was this enough to achieve the ideal Fascist state Mussolini was passionate about? On the surface maybe Mussolini appeared to have his ideal state, but did he really have the true support of the people and a totalitarian state?

By 1926 Mussolini had achieved his ambition of becoming the dictator of Italy. Leading up to 1926 Mussolini unified the squadristi into a national Fascist militia and created the Fascist Grand Council to bring the ras under his control, this was the beginnings of Mussolini's attempt to create a more disciplined party. His determination to also strengthen the Fascist's position led to the creation of the Acerbo Law that would give the leading party two thirds of the seats in parliament that Mussolini made sure was the Fascists.

The Mateotti crisis could have seen the breakdown of the Fascist party but the ras demanded that Mussolini moved decisively towards a dictatorship. This Mussolini did set out to do, but he made it clear that his party would not be his agent. It was a personal dictatorship he was aiming for and not a Fascist Party dictatorship.

During 1925 to 1926 Mussolini secured his dictatorship. He had transformed the country into a one party state, could rule by decree, had created his own secret police the OVRA, formed the Fascist Tribunal and enforced press censorship so only pro-Fascist articles were published. Mussolini's personal rule was enshrined in law, the King was the only person who could take his power away, Mussolini was Duce.
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Mussolini's ideal Fascist state probably would not have included a Monarchy to which he still had to 'answer to', but in practice Mussolini knew he would lose support from too many people if he did. Though the King Victor Emmanuel did not oppose a threat on Mussolini; he was never asked advice and only told what Mussolini wanted him to hear. Luckily for Mussolini the King had always distanced himself from all domestic policy and by the late 1920s it has become apparent the King would not overthrow Mussolini and the Fascists. To secure his position further though, ...

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