History 2 Collectivism

COLLECTIVISM• Can be described as an anti-liberal

political ideology

• Rise of collectivism was a result of the damage done to liberalism by WWI

• Collectivist developments were active responses to the failures of liberalism

Basic Difference Between the Ideals of Liberalism and Collectivism

• Liberalism favors maximum freedom for each individual, personal freedom in society

• Collectivism favors active social planning and direction to promote the general welfare of all members of society

Collectivism Took Many Forms:

• Communism in Russia

• Fascism in Italy and Germany

• Capitalist Welfare State in Britain and the United States

Mass Culture and the Rise of Modern Dictators

• Creating a homogeneous culture within a population

• Homogeneous: Of the same or similar nature; of uniform structure or composition throughout

• Trend began with WWI, uniting a population against a common enemy

• Homogenizing media instruments which expanded their influence during the 1920’s: radio, film, newspapers

Potential of Mass Media

• Enhancing democracy by creating an informed citizenry

• Providing tools for dictatorship, making it possible for authoritarian rulers to control the masses

Fascism in Italy and Germany

• Origin of the word: Italian word is fascismo, derived from fascio (bundle or group)

• Founded in 1919: By the Italian Benito Mussolini

Mussolini’s Entry for the Italian Encyclopedia

• “Fascism combats the whole complex system of democratic ideology, and repudiates {rejects} it, whether in its theoretical premises or in its practical application.”

• “Fascism denies that the majority, by the simple fact that it is a majority, can direct human society; it denies that numbers alone can govern by means of a periodical consultation,”

• “and it affirms the immutable {undeniable}, beneficial, and fruitful inequality of mankind, which can never be permanently leveled through the mere operation of a mechanical process such as universal suffrage…”

The Great Depression and Its Effects on Society

• Triggered by the U.S. stock market crash of 1929

• U.S. cut back on loans and called in debts

• Spawned a global depression

1) Unemployment during the 1930’s

• Cities with heavy industry hardest hit

• Created a general sense of fear in society

• In agriculture industry, foreclosures on farm lands

2) Social Life and Gender Roles are Strained

• Women sometimes forced to take low paying jobs

• Men often left home unemployed

• Upset of traditional gender roles

3) Declining Birthrates

• Could no longer afford to feed as many mouths

• After WWI, mandatory education enforced, thus children could contribute less to family income

Conditions in Italy: Political Chaos and Discontent

• Constitutional Monarchy had never won much loyalty

• Italian government viewed as ineffective

• Inflation and unemployment

• Disillusioned with liberal ideals

• National pride was wounded

Benito Mussolini

• Born into a socialist, working class family

• Served in WWI until 1917

• Started his own newspaper, expressing his political views

• Opposed parliamentary style government

The “Blackshirts”• Mussolini’s paramilitary group

• Who the Blackshirts attracted

• Engaged in street fighting with anyone who opposed their political views

• Damaged opposition’s offices

• Assassinated some opposing leaders

Mussolini’s March on Rome

• Blackshirts gave many Italians a false sense of the existence of order and discipline

• When the capitol was under threat of the Blackshirts, the King “invited” Mussolini to create a new government

Mussolini – Il Duce

• Parliament voted to give him the power for one year as a dictator

• As dictator, he changes election laws and eliminates any opposition parties

Sources of Support for Fascists in Italy

• Military – glorified militarism and heaped on financial support of the army

• Industrial leaders – Fascists had worked to defeat socialism. Why would this be appealing to industrialists?

Sources continued

• Catholic Church – Lateran Treaty and Concordat of 1929. What did the Church get? And what did Mussolini get?

• The Masses – propaganda and media; sense of belonging; mass rituals, parades and rallies

The Fascist Philosophy Spreads Through Europe

• Similar “strong men” coming to power in Hungary, Poland and Romania

• Fascist followings in Austria, Portugal and Spain

• However, became most successful in Germany under Hitler