'Clever propaganda was the reason Mussolini stayed in power so long.' Discuss this view

by munirs220isgedusa (student)

Mussolini's regime created a propaganda machine that played a pivotal role in securing his power for so long. This propaganda machine involved the use of press censorship, the indoctrination of the nation’s youth, the Romanita movement, and the success of these efforts is evident by the 'cult of personality that emerged.' There were additional factors that supported Mussolini's regime including the support of the Church and the use of terror and oppression, however to a large extent it was the use of propaganda that played the most important role in maintaining Mussolini's regime.

The main element of the propaganda machine was the use of press censorship which was highly effective in covering any weaknesses of the fascist state and therefore, prevented any unpopular support against Mussolini. The first step in controlling the mass media was taken in July 1925 when Mussolini imposed a series of laws designed to control the press; anti-fascist newspapers were shut down, while other newspapers were only allowed to print articles approved by the government. In December 1925, all journalists were required to be on a register drawn up by the fascist party. This was effective in preventing any dissemination of news that could potentially harm the fascists. Furthermore, in 1924, Mussolini created a state radio network to spread propaganda, public address systems were set up in cafés, restaurants and public squares to reach every member of Italian society. In 1924 the L’Unione Cinematografi ca Educativa was created to make documentaries and newsreels made compulsory to show in cinemas. The fascists effectively ensured that only the successes of the regime were shared leading people to believe in only the fascists success.

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The indoctrination of the nation’s youth was also highly successful in ensuring the long-term survival of the fascist regime. The youth were the fascists best long-term hope for securing a docile and loyal population committed to their ideals of service to the fascist state as the greatest purpose in life. Mussolini ensured the support of the youth by revising the education system. The curriculum at school emphasised suitable fascist subjects, ancient history, Italian history, Latin, and philosophy all received greater attention, with schoolchildren being taught the phrase 'Mussolini is always right'. This was effective and gained the support of both parents and teachers. In addition, outside of school youth clubs were set up with the main youth organisation being the Opera Nazionale Balilla, for boys and girls aged from 8 to 21. The motto of the youth movement was 'Believe, Obey, Fight' successfully producing a new generation of Italians worthy of the Duce and able to fight to create a great nation. Overall, Mussolini's policies towards the youth were effective in creating a population that were loyal only to the Il Duce.

The Romanità movement was also largely useful in increasing the popularity of Mussolini's regime. The movement linked Mussolini's regime to the former greatness of ancient Rome and thereby improved the prestige and popularity of his government. To recreate this former greatness of the Roman Empire Mussolini attempted to develop an overseas empire. On the 3rd of October 1935 without declaring war, Italy attacked Ethiopia, with there being a large extent of popular support for the war. This was evident on the 18th of December 1935, earmarked as the 'Day of Faith' when Mussolini asked the women of Italy to donate their gold wedding rings to the national cause. The response was huge, thirty-five tonnes of gold across the country were willingly handed to support the war effort, demonstrating the immense support towards Mussolini and the Romanità movement. Addis Abba was finally captured in the 5th of May 1936. The successful invasion of Ethiopia was the highpoint of Mussolini’s career, it distracted from the failures of Mussolini's domestic policies preventing discontent. The fascists did not in fact recreate the glory of the Roman Empire, but nonetheless the Romanità movement regained the support of the Italian people and ensured the survival of the regime.

The argument that propaganda was the most important factor in ensuring the long-term survival of the regime is evident by the 'Cult of Personality' that emerged around Mussolini. The Duce became almost beyond reproach. The propaganda machine was highly effective in producing a relentless stream of images of Mussolini as the destined leader of the fascist state. There circulated fictitious stories of Mussolini's incredible capacity for work; the man of action leading by example, bare-chested and helping to bring in the grain harvest; the military leader in different uniforms marching and reviewing troops; the man of culture in a photo of him playing the violin. This policy was successful not only in gauging the support of local Italians but also that of foreigners. Churchill for example described Mussolini as a 'Roman genius … the greatest lawgiver among men' adding further in a letter to Mussolini in 1927, ‘What a man! I have lost my heart! … Fascism has rendered a service to the entire world,' proving how effective Fascist propaganda was in gaining popular support and maintaining Mussolini's regime.

There are however additional factors that contributed to the long-term success of Mussolini's regime, including the role of the Church and the police state, however, these factors were not as crucial to the regime's success as the propaganda machine. The role of the police state for starters was limited considering the little opposition against Mussolini. Mussolini did establish the Organizzazione per la Vigilanza e la Repressione dell’Antifascismo (OVRA) in 1927, a secret police force which performed an estimated 20,000 visits, searches and arrests a week. However, this does not compare to the role played by the Gestapo in Hitler's Germany or the NKVD in Stalinist Russia, in comparison the extent of terror in Italy was limited. The role of the Church was a far more important factor in supporting Mussolini's regime and Mussolini made a number of efforts to gain their support. He announced measures that included renouncing atheism, making religious education compulsory, and banning contraception. As a result of these efforts, Pope Pius XI assisted Mussolini through withdrawing the Church's support for the Popolari and forcing the Popolari minister, a priest, Don Luigui Sturzo to resign. Furthermore, Mussolini position in power was further supported by the Church following the Lateran pact that was negotiated. The Lateran Pact, signed in February 1929 addressed the Roman question and restored relations between the Italian state and the Catholic Church. The support of the Church did help secure Mussolini's power but it was not the main factor in the long-term survival of the regime; Mussolini did manage to maintain power even in facing attacks from the Church; In June 1931 in his encyclical, the pope criticised the 'pagan worship of the state,' but the people continued to support the fascist government largely because the propaganda machine convinced them of the successes of the regime.

In conclusion, the propaganda machine under the fascist regime was highly effective, as it covered up the weaknesses of the fascist regime and convinced the Italians only of the successes of the great nation. That is why the support of the police state or even the Church does not compare to the importance of the propaganda machine, because it instilled hope in Italians and loyalty towards Mussolini. Therefore the propaganda machine was the main reason why Mussolini stayed in power so long.

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