Mussolini’s
Social Policies
What are Social Policies?
• Aspect of Social Engineering
• Produce Citizens w/Values consistent &
automatic w/State
• Condition to Conform to Guidelines of
State w/minimal supervision
What are Social Policies
in Right-Wing State?
• Create or Recreate what is seen as a
Golden Age
• Traditional Values in terms of status of
men & women, family life, education
policy, moral values, occupations, class
structure and hierarchy
• Respect for Tradition & Authority,
Nationalism, Racism & Suspicion of
Liberal or Progressive Ideas
Mussolini’s Social Policies Aims
• Create Nation of Fascists
• National Consciousness Priority over
Class, Regional or Group Identity
• Proud Warriors Working Hard to
Improve Nation’s Strength
• Devoted Followers of Il Duce, heroic
dictator
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth
“He [ideal Fascist youth] tempers all
enthusiasm with iron discipline…
despises fear; loves the hard life, and
serves with faith, passion and happiness
the cause of Fascism.”
—Fascist Party Secretary Starace, 1938
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth
“These are the duties of a Balilla [young Fascist].
To love, fear and pray to God. To love your
parents as much as your country and your
country as much as your parents. To love the
victorious king who personifies our free and
united country and the Duce who has made it
stronger and greater. To feel love and gratitude
for all those who have given their blood for Italy
and for the Fascism which saved us. To obey
your superiors enthusiastically, to fulfil your
duties meticulously as a son, brother, a scholar
and a comrade. To endeavor to grow up good,
strong, industrious, polite and educated so as to
be able to contribute to the prosperity and the
greatness of the nation.”
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth
• Education
o Religion Compulsory (elementary 1923,
secondary 1929)
o Teachers Oath of Loyalty to Regime
o Attempt Break Class Barriers –national
man, Fascist Man or Woman
o Cult of Mussolini
o Less Control Higher in Education
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth
• Youth Movements
o ONB or Balilla
o Sports: special emphasis to military skills
o Propaganda Lectures, esp. nationalism
o Parades & Saturday Rallies
o Summer Camps
o Girls—same plus calisthenics, sewing,
music recitals, handicrafts, child care,
hygiene, flower arrangements
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth
• Summary
o Prioritized Youth to create Nation of
Fascists
o Trained in Fascist Values—obedience,
love of Duce, nationalism & militarism
o No Major Changes to Education
o Teachers Made to Swear Loyalty Oath
o Middle-classes Increasing Concern over
Devaluing of Education
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Youth
• Summary
o Less Impact on Universities—some
dissent tolerated
o Children Encouraged to Join Youth
Organizations
o ONB provided Sport, Leisure &
Propaganda Programs
o Catholic Boy Scouts Shut Down
o Many youth absorbed Fascist Ideas;
Others Just Conformed; Increasing
Resistance in Time
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women
• Employment:
• restrict opportunities for employment
esp. ‘unnatural’ jobs (i.e. school teachers,
office workers, professionals); 1933 limit
to 10% of state jobs; 1938 10% extended to
many private firms; did NOT challenge
role in agriculture & accepted many
worked in industry
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women
• Education:
• Training to stay at home
• Excluded from Prestigious Positions in
Education
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women
• Personal Life:
• Appearance well rounded & sturdy
instead of thin & elegant
• Criticized cosmetics, high heels, trousers,
and “Negro & rhythmic dancing”
• Mixed Concept of Sport
• Battle for Births
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Women
• Politics:
• Ambivalent at Best
• 1925 given vote in local elections, then
ended those elections
• Focus on Household
• Served on Committees for female issues,
charity work
• Encouraged to attend Rallies & Help in
Propaganda
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Religion
• 1923: increased clerical salaries
• Religious Education Reinstituted in
Elementary Schools
• Catholic Church too Ingrained in Italian
Society
• Church Sympathetic to Anti-Communism
of Mussolini
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Religion
• 1929 Lateran Pacts
o Lateran Treaty (political)
o recognized Vatican City as a separate state
o Pope recognized Rome as capital of Italy
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Religion
• 1929 Lateran Pacts
o Concordat (Church-State relations)
o Catholicism Sole Religion of State
o State Veto Power over Church
Appointments
o Religion Reintroduced into Secondary Ed
o Church Marriages Recognized by State
o Church Controlled Divorce
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda
Vital Part of Fascist State
Cult of the Duce
Cult of Ancient Rome
Fascist Party Active Role
No Ministry of Popular Culture until 1937
Press, not Fascist owned, Conformed (need
to do so)
• Radio & Film Important, but Remained
Mostly Entertainment
• Use of Art & Architecture (diversity
tolerated)
• Much Less Totalitarian than Germany or
USSR
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Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda
• Messages:
o Believe in Mussolini—Wise Duce
o Support Powerful Fascist State
o Work Hard as One, United Nation
o Become Strong & Warlike
o Have Pride in Italy
o Heir to the Roman Empire
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda
Mussolini’s
Social Policies:
Propaganda
Mussolini’s
Social Policies:
Propaganda
Mussolini’s
Social Policies:
Propaganda
Mussolini’s
Social Policies:
Propaganda
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda
Mussolini’s Social Policies: Propaganda