The Making of Fascism - Class, State, and Counter-Revolution, Italy 1919-1922

Elazar examines the social and political processes that determined the character of Fascist organization in Italy and its seizure of state power first in the provinces and then in the nation. She argues that the Fascists' modus operandi shaped the political struggles they engaged in and reflexively determined their own political significance. Employing both primary and secondary historical sources, Elazar reveals the crucial internal political struggles and inner contradictions through which Fascism was invented.

The political strategy of paramilitary organization and assault on labor and the Socialists carried out by the Fascist Action Squads in collusion with men of property was crucial in determining their seizure of power. But this also determined the ideological and organizational contours of Fascism itself. The Fascist Squads' alliances with men of property made them a formidable faction within the Fascist organization that could and did challenge Mussolini's authority. The making of Fascism is thus marked by the irony of the relationship between Mussolini and his political power base--the Squads. The very element of paramilitary organization that was decisive in the Fascists' seizure of power in the provinces had to be submerged by Mussolini if he was to preserve his power. Historical and comparative sociologists, political sociologists, and students of Italian Fascism and Italian history will find this new explanation of the making of Fascism both provacative and fascinating.

List of contents

Introduction
The Making of Fascism: An Overview
The Sociological Paradigm: The Neglected Historical Sequence of Fascism's Ascendancy
The First Antagonists: Landlords and Workers
The Political Feudalism of the Liberal State
The Rise of the Labor Movement
Counter-Revolution: The Struggle Against Socialism
The Fascist Militarization of Politics
Provincial Fascism: The Assault of Squadrismo
The March on Rome: Fascism's Provincial Road to National Power
The State's Alliance with the Fascists
The "March on Rome": The Seizure of Power
The Internal Contradictions of Fascist Rule: Provincial vs. National Fascism
Epilogue
Index

Product details

• Authors: Dahlia Elazar, Dahlia Sabina Elazar
• Publisher: Bloomsbury
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 30.08.2001
• EAN: 9780275958640
• ISBN: 978-0-275-95864-0
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > Regional and national histories; POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Process / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / European, Italy, Political structure & processes, Fascism & Nazism, Revolutions, uprisings, rebellions, Revolutionary groups & movements, Far-right political ideologies and movements, Political structure and processes, Revolutionary groups and movements, HISTORY / Revolutions, Uprisings & Rebellions, World History: Politics and Government