Mussolini’s Rise to Power

In this lecture, we look at Mussolini and his rise to power, focusing in particular on: (i) Mussolini’s childhood and upbringing by a revolutionary socialist activist father with nationalist sympathies; (ii) Mussolini’s period as chief editor of the Socialist Party newspaper Avanti; (iii) Mussolini’s expulsion from the editorial team for Avanti and the subsequent foundation of his pro-interventionist newspaper, Il Popolo d’Italia; (iv) Mussolini’s rise to prominence in the early-1920s, including the march on Rome in October 1922; (v) the role of King Victor Emmanuel II of Italy (1869-1947) in enabling Mussolini’s rise to power; (vi) the verbal attacks of socialist politician Giacomo Matteotti against Mussolini and the fascist movement, and his subsequent murder by Fascist squadristi; and (vii) the introduction of le leggi fasciste (“the super-fascist laws”) during the early stages of Mussolini’s leadership.

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This lecture is part of a larger course exploring Italian Fascism, looking at its origin, ideology, and its end. The full course can be found here: massolit.io/courses/fascist-italy-1911-48?source=yt

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MASSOLIT works with university academics to produce short video lectures in the arts, sciences, humanities and social sciences. It is available to schools and colleges on an institutional license as well as via private subscription: massolit.io/?source=yt