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Propaganda Under Mussolini (Instruments of Propaganda (Newspapers (despite…
Propaganda Under Mussolini
Aims
support the powerful Fascist government
believe in Mussolini - the wise Duce
work hard as one united nation
become strong and warlike
have pride in Italy - the heir to the Roman Empire
Ancient Rome
Mussolini's words, engraved in the stone at the entrance to the Roman exhibition celebrating the 200th anniversary of the birth of Augustus
"Italians, you must ensure that the glories of the past are surpassed by the glories of the future
exhibitions of Ancient Rome displayed Rome's imperial might
Ancient Rome used as the inspiration and justification of Fascist policies
Mussolini presented as the heir to Augustus
he was doing the same as Augustus
bringing order from chaos
improving Italy's economy
improving Italy's military
leading the country to imperial glory
source of inspiration for greater national pride
learning about the success of the Ancient Roman Empire made them more eager to support a new Italian Fascist Empire
Development of Propaganda in Italy
Mussolini had once been a journalist/newspaper director
therefore, he appreciated the necessity of media in establishing ideas
the publicity he achieved through
Il Popolo d'Italia
was one factor that helped him emerge as the Fascist leader
radio, films and newsreels became major propaganda tools
government involved the masses in parades and sporting activities
propaganda in Italy inferior to propaganda in Germany (Goebbels' propaganda machine)
but it extended its reach over aspects of Italian life throughout the 30s
Mussolini's Press Office was made into a ministry in 1935
it had great success in rally support for the Abyssinian War
later became less successful in promoting support for the German alliance and anti-semitism
Instruments of Propaganda
Newspapers
hostile newspapers attacked by squads
by 1926, newspapers had either been shut down, or were conforming
government grants given to Fascist sympathetic newspapers
reporting of crime, disasters, unemployment, disorders etc. was forbidden
Mussolini's Press Office published the acceptable tellings of sensitive events
despite the suppression of opposition papers, there was a wide range of different papers
for example clerical papers
this wide range meant a large number of readers an helped to diffuse the Fascist ideology
the odd underground anti-Fascist papers were circulated
Radio
initially neglected by Mussolini
was skeptical of its value
the 1930s saw the expansion in popularity of radios
40,000 in 1927
1 million by 1938
Radio broadcasts were controlled by the state
Mussolini's major speeches were broadcast live
radios most popular publicly
e.g. in Piazzas to large cheering crowds
Cinema
government late to realise potential of cinema
up until 1930s, they mostly imported hollywood films
from 1934, a Director General in the Culture Ministry was appointed
he encouraged film production
most films were bog-standard
only a few were concerned with promoting Fascism and portraying the Fascist struggle against socialism
Posters
many walls were plastered with simple slogans and striking images of the Duce
occasionally, opposition posters were put up
removed quickly
Rallies
mass parades
to stress communal spirit
to show discipline and military might
Sport
built a community
built discipline
socialised the people
secured commitment to regime
Literature/Drama
less emphasis
encouraged to accept Italian cultural autarky
but diversity remained
no great Fascist literature written
provided work was not anti-Fascist it was permitted
Art/Culture
Culture was, in many ways, diverse in Italy
2 main artistic tendencies
neo-classicalists
looked to Ancient Rome for inspiration
favoured realism and monumentalism
preferred by Fascists - fell in line with their Ancient Rome based ideology
Fascists supported this art style with state run competitions
modernists
experimented in diverse abstract styles
government did not suppress this abstract style
as long as it was not deemed to have a political agenda
some artists would create work with a cryptic anti-Fascist message
artists expected to join the state Syndicate of Professionals and Artists
but not required to produce a specific type of art
exhibitions in newly constructed monumental buildings helped to stress the power of the regime
Art was encourage to support the idea of strength in community
Philosophy and Intellecutal Ideas
in 1925, over 200 intellectuals met to produce the Manifesto of Fascist Intellectuals
did this as Fascism had not great text to preside over it
Communism had the works of Marx
Nazism had Mein Kampf
Philosopher Gentile
produced some other Fascist texts that stressed the importance of Italy and the nature of culture and Fascism
How Successful was Mussolini in Using Propaganda to Strengthen his Regime?
Propaganda helped to secure Mussolini's regime, with his popularity perhaps reaching its peak in 1936
the novelty and excess of the cult of the Duce wore off
by 1940, he was fairly unpopular
Mussolini also came to believe his own cult
he lost his grip on reality and made policies in the late 1930s that alienated large groups of Italians
led to his overthrow
Furthermore, Fascist Italy lacked terror
USSR and Nazi Germany were testament to the fact that terror and propaganda together formed a potent combination