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