Produktdetaljer
Biografisk notat
PHILIP MORGAN is Senior Lecturer in Contemporary European History at the University of Hull. He is the author of Fascism in Europe, 1919-1995 (2000), and has written several articles on Italian Fascism.'The best introduction to the subject available.' - Dr Jonathan Morris, University College London Praise for the first edition: '[an] impressive synthesis. Tightly written, it packs an enormous amount of information into 200-odd pages. [Morgan's] account of the links between domestic and foreign policy in Italian Fascism is exemplary.' - Paul Preston, Times Higher Education Supplement
It is now 80 years since Mussolini's Fascism came to power in Italy, but the political heirs of the original Fascism are part of government in today's Italy. The resurgence of neo-fascist and neo-Nazi extremism all over Europe are a reminder of the continuing place of fascism in contemporary European society, despite its political and military defeat in 1945.
This thoroughly revised, updated and expanded edition provides a critical and comprehensive overview of the origins of Fascism and the movement's taking and consolidation of power. Philip Morgan:
- Explains how the experience of the First World War created Fascism
- Describes how the unsettled post-war conditions in Italy enabled an initially small group of political adventurers around Mussolini to build a large movement and take power in 1922
- Focuses on the workings of the first ever 'totalitarian' system and its impacts on the lives and outlooks of ordinary Italians
- Considers the meshing of internal 'fascistisation' and expansionism, which emerged most clearly after 1936 as Italy became more closely aligned with Nazi Germany
- Examines the demise of Italian Fascism between 1943 and 1945 as Mussolini and his party became the puppets of Nazism
- Provides an explanation and interpretation of Fascism, locating it in contemporary history and taking account of recent debates on the nature of the phenomenon.
Clear and approachable, this essential text is ideal for anyone interested in Italy's turbulent political history in the first half of the 20th century.
Acknowledgements
List of Abbreviations
Map of Modern Italy
Introduction: Locating Fascism
PART I: THE CONQUEST OF POWER, 1915-29
The War, the Postwar Crisis and the Rise of Fascism, 1915-22
Between 'Normalisation' and 'Revolution', 1922-5
The Construction of the 'Totalitarian' State, 1925-9
PART II: THE FASCIST REGIME, 1929-36
The Years of the Great Depression, 1929-34
The Creation of the Fascist Empire, 1935-6
PART III: FASCIST EXPANSION AT HOME AND ABROAD, 1936-43
The Axis Connection and the 'Fascistisation' of Italian Society, 1936-40
Fascist Italy at War, 1940-3
The Italian Social Republic, 1943-5
Conclusion
Notes
Select Bibliography
Index.
This thoroughly revised, updated and expanded edition provides a critical and comprehensive overview of the origins of Fascism and the movement's taking and consolidation of power. Philip Morgan:
· explains how the experience of the First World War created Fascism
· describes how the unsettled post-war conditions in Italy enabled an initially small group of political adventurers around Mussolini to build a large movement and take power in 1922
· focuses on the workings of the first ever 'totalitarian' system and its impacts on the lives and outlooks of ordinary Italians
· considers the meshing of internal 'fascistisation' and expansionism, which emerged most clearly after 1936 as Italy became more closely aligned with Nazi Germany
· examines the demise of Italian Fascism between 1943 and 1945 as Mussolini and his party became the puppets of Nazism
· provides an explanation and interpretation of Fascism, locating it in contemporary history and taking account of recent debates on the nature of the phenomenon.
Clear and approachable, this essential text is ideal for anyone interested in Italy's turbulent political history in the first half of the twentieth century.