VIDEO ANALYSIS 2
Benito Mussolini, creator and leader of the first fascist movement in Italy, bombarded his
way into power through the use of extreme violent acts and intimidation during the 1920s. Seen
as a tyrant an
...
VIDEO ANALYSIS 2
Benito Mussolini, creator and leader of the first fascist movement in Italy, bombarded his
way into power through the use of extreme violent acts and intimidation during the 1920s. Seen
as a tyrant and powerful ruler, his fascist movement was supported by the idea of ‘making Italy
great again’ with nationalism, loyalty, and supremacy of the Italian race as the backbone to his
theory. Mussolini believed the idea that fascism was the true way to restore the many issues Italy
faced at the time. His tactical use of force and violence allowed him to enforce the ideology of
fascism on the Italian people for many years. This paper will analyze Benito Mussolini’s video
on aspects of foreign policy, violent/ non violent social, economic and political change
movements, and government authority and loss of personal liberties.
Foreign Policy
After reviewing the Benito Mussolini video, a clear foreign policy wasn’t known initially
but it was evident that Mussolini’s ultimate goal was to make Italy powerful and as synonymous
as other European countries like Britain and France. Mussolini took great efforts to expand his
influence of Italian fascism through use of violence, his use of war to distract the country from
his failures of the fascism movement, and basically to make Italy great, respected and feared.
Fascism was built on nationalism, which he felt was necessary to start a revolution. “Fascism
celebrates military might, extreme devotion to country, and superiority of the Italian people.”
(Dictator’s Playbook, 2015). He wanted to prove that they were a strong nation and
implementing his ideology would help restore order in Italy.
Violent/ non-violent movements
I found it very interesting yet was saddened to learn of the extreme acts of violence by
the fascists. In order to bring down the communist party, the fascist promoted the use of
violence. They made it evident that violence would be used at all cost in order to receive what
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VIDEO ANALYSIS 3
they wanted. Homes were burned, socialist leaders were murdered, people were assaulted, and
major destruction to union halls. Mussonili wanted to end democracy and rule as a dictator. He
threatened his way into power as prime minister by demanding King Victor Emmanuel III
appoint him as prime minister or the Fascist would march on Rome (Duiker, 2015). Mussolini
made his objective clear, “Obey me or be dissolved” (Dictator’s Playbook, 2015). He was going
to mold this entire country to the fascist way of life. His tyrannical methods didn’t end there, in
fact in the election in 1826, the Fascist won that election through violence, intimidation, and vote
rigging. However there were some nonviolent strategies he took to reinforce traditional social
attitudes. He created public work programs that decreased unemployment rates. Public
education, road and town building, etc helped him gain support of the Italian people.
Government Authority/ Loss of personal liberties
By the 1930s, Mussolini was nearly in complete control of Italy. He initiated press laws
and police laws which forbid any publication of disrespect to his monarchy, state, or Catholic
Church and empowered the police to confine and jail anyone who committed political and non
political crimes. The video speaks on how he indoctrinated the country, instilling his image and
views into people at a young age and forcing the previous population that his way was the only
way that’ll can help the country. His slogans and images were represented everywhere. By the
1930s, he had young men and even children practicing this way of life by initiating summer
camps, drills, and pre-military exercises to mold them into war soldiers. The video didn’t cover
how he regulated women’s clothing, increased penalties for abortions, outlawed freemasonry,
and made clergy exempt from taxaton (Greenspan, 2019). It’s clear by this time, Mussolini was
in complete control.
The Benito Mussolini video definitely gave me a better understanding of him and his
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