How did Mussolini use propaganda
to strengthen his regime?
a)
b)
Objectives:
What were the aims and methods
of Fascist propaganda?
How did Mussolini use culture for
propaganda purposes?
How did Mussolini use propaganda to
strengthen his regime?
How did propaganda develop in Fascist Italy?
Summary
Mussolini = journalist Newspapers were the most
important information and propaganda instrument
 Radio and film = slow start but then = major propaganda
tool especially newsreels
 Enthusiasm  vast parades and sporting activities
Technology 
 Difficult for fascist regimes to exist without technology?
 Microphone and loud speaker = voice to the masses
 Architecture used to impress people = reinforced
concrete, improved transportation for massive pieces of
stone
 Electrification, planes, railways, cars and tanks all in their
way gave added power to the regime
How did propaganda develop in Fascist Italy?
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Analysis
Development = gradual process
Press office gradually extended its original role in the
1930s to cover radio, film and eventually all aspects of
culture.
 1937 Ministry of Popular Culture  nicknames
‘minculpop’  limited effect? Due to bureaucratic
inefficiency
Failure to win popular support for German alliance and
government’s anti-Semitic policies in the late 1930s
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Most Italians believed, and some still do despite
evidence to the contrary, that Fascism reduced crime,
vice and poverty
3. What were the strengths and weaknesses of the major means of
propaganda in spreading the Fascist message?
Newspapers
• By 1926 the last opposition party papers suppressed
• Many bought by fascist sympathisers
• Hostile editors or journalists could be arrested or
replaced
• Most popular journalists remained in their posts =
reinforced readers acceptance of what they said.
• Govt. grants  favoured journalists/papers
• State controlled what papers said
• Most censorship by editors
• Reporting of crime, disasters, unemployment, disorders
etc forbidden
• Most foreign papers banned
• One press agency = run by a fascist
• Compulsory – Journalists = registered by state and join
fascist organisation
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• Fascist party papers = no more than 10% of overall
circulation. Vatican’s paper increased it’s daily circulation.
Milan’s paper = 5 times Fascist circulation
• Underground anti-fascist papers continued
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the major means of
propaganda in spreading the Fascist message?
Radio
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Neglected initially, post 1924 state run
rapidly expanding radio network
Music – classical, US jazz, and drama
Mussolini’s major speeches broadcast live
 large loudspeakers – piazzas
Private radio listeners – foreign
programmes, BBC, Spain
Radios expensive .’. Few had them
More listened in public
1930s govt. provided sets for a new rural
agency (ERR) – schools
OND ran community listening meetings
which helped spread fascist ideas,
especially in rural areas and to the illiterate
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the major means of
propaganda in spreading the Fascist message?
Cinema
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Govt. slow to realise it’s potential
1924 LUCE created – produce newsreels &
documentaries. M previewed them!
Shown before main film
Censored Italian 7 imported films
Autarky principle for film industry too – restricted
Hollywood imports – subsidies
1937 IRI – Hollywood by the Tiber! Revival of
domestic films
Most films escapist/historical drama, few explicitly
fascist – few propaganda films
Cinema offered escapism, false sense of security
and national pride
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the major means of
propaganda in spreading the Fascist message?
Posters
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Most visual means of
propaganda
Many walls plastered by the
party and govt agencies with
simple slogans and striking
images of the Duce.
Important as there was
considerable illiteracy.
Occasionally, opposition
posters were displayed briefly,
but generally the govt. had a
MONOPOLY of this important
medium.
Mass activities
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The Italian team that
went on to win the
world cup, 1934. The
sign at the back of
the stadium reads
‘Buy Italian products’
How did Mussolini use culture for
propaganda purposes?
Objectives:
1. Why was there
considerable cultural
diversity in Fascist
Italy?
2. How effectively were
the Arts and culture
used for propaganda
purposes?
How did Mussolini use culture for propaganda purposes?
What is culture?
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Elitist works of art
High culture - intellectual discussion.
Mass culture – popular customs and behaviour
Mussolini most concerned with mass culture
Modern means of communication = more
opportunity to reach and influence masses more
effectively.
High culture used as a means of propaganda & to
increase the external prestige of the Fascist state
Was there an official view of Fascist Art?
1. What do sources 6.19 & 6.20 tell us about the
Fascist regime’s view of art?
Control
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The government tried to control art through promoting
competitions, at regional, national and international
level.
Winners received govt. funds and commissions
Private commissioning largely unaffected…. until late
1930s.
Artists expected to join the Syndicate of Professionals
and Artists.
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Artists were not required to subscribe to an official view
of art.
This meant that unlike Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy
experienced no loss of major artists.
Literature, Drama & Music
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Less attention  did not reach the masses.
Drama = minority pursuit despite efforts of
National Fascist Culture Institute.
Conferences, free concerts & publications.
Music = less potential for direct propaganda 
musicians required to join the Fascist Union of
Musicians. Encouraged to reject foreign
influences and develop ‘cultural AUTARCHY’.
However, considerable diversity was still
maintained.
In theory Ministry of Popular Culture was
supposed to control music but in practice music
escaped major regimentation
Literature, Drama & Music - Analysis
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No great fascist literature was
every written
Provided writers included nothing
directly hostile to the regime, they
were left free, apart from being
required to join the relevant
Fascist syndicate
The poet Eugenio Montale
probably spoke for many when he
explained,
‘ I never was Fascist, nor did I sing
to Fascism. Nor however, did I
write poems that might appear to
oppose that pseudo-revolution’
Philosophy and Intellectual Ideas
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Mussolini was particularly concerned to develop a
philosophy of Fascism. He considered this would
boost the regime’s international reputation, and help
establish a new Fascist elite.
Communism = Writings of Marx and Lenin. Nazism =
Mein Kampf. Fascism = nothing!
Mussolini wanted to form a clear doctrine of Fascism.
1925 over 200 intellectuals met at Bologna to produce
the Manifesto of Fascist intellectuals. ‘Without fascism
there can be no true culture!’ Counter Manifesto
declared fascism and culture incompatible.
Philosophy and Intellectual Ideas - Analysis
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The attempt to intellectualise the diverse & contradictory
ideas in the Fascist movement had little impact.
Amongst the educated, Fascism was seen primarily as a
vehicle for career advancement rather than
intellectual inspiration.
Most intellectuals were not committed Fascists
Famous philosopher Croce retained his influence –
critical of regime – government took little action.
Catholic Church still influential  student’s federation
& Catholic University in Milan.
Italian intelligentsia, though politically conformist, did
not become intellectually engaged with the regime.
The historian Zaggario has argue that
‘Italian
academic culture was largely impervious
(resistant) to Fascistisation’