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Italy's Foreign Policy in the 1930s (Factors (Impact of Fascism (more…
Italy's Foreign Policy in the 1930s
Factors
Impact of Fascism
Mussolini pursued a more clearly fascist regime
war for its own sake
pursuit of imperial expansion
move away from diplomacy and cooperation
more assertive and aggressive in diplomatic relations
anti-french territorial claims
war with Abyssinia, Spain, and Albania
moved away from relatively good British relations towards Hitler
italo-german agreements
Rome-Berlin Axis
Pact of Steel
European Diplomatic Alignments
Quadripartite Act
1933
Italy has a central role in european diplomacy!
alternative to League
smaller countries would have less say in "Great Powers" relations (Italy, Germany, Britain, and France)
adhere to League's covenant, Locarno Treaties and Kelogg-Briand Pact
had little meaning and was dismissed by other powers
heralded as great success for Mussolini
Stresa Front
1935
Britain, France, and Italy
alarmed by Hitler's rearmament
reaffirmed Locarno treaties and agreed to prevent further violation of Versailles treaty and peace in europe
Mussolini had always opposed
Anschluss
, and worked to deter Hitler from achieving it
Domestic Factors
Economics
overvaluing lira made worse by GD
italian farmers badly hit by collapse in grain prices
Great Depression!
Government response:
Istituto Mobiliare Italiano
1931
financial support to banks and industries
Istituto per la Ricostruzione Industriale
1933
took over shares of companies and banks
italy had largest public sector in europe other than USSR
allocation of raw materials under gov't control
direct control of major industries increased
public works programmes
removal of emigration ban
employment = 2 mil
avoided social and political upheaval
distract and unify the people
fascist revolutionary spirit
foreign policy needs to be more dynamic and inspirational!
this backfired because the cost of
Il Duce
's wars and the emphasis of autarky undermined economy even further
ultimately had negative political effect and undermined elite support of the regime