1. Mussolini’s domestic policy
Andy, Denis, Belle

2. Introduction to the policy
Mussolini had no real understanding or interest in economics.
However, he realized that having strong economy will consolidate his position in Italy.
Mussolini also believed Italy should be self-sufficient in both food and raw material.
Dealt with poverty problems and improving agriculture

3. First ‘Battle’
To achieve his goal of making Italy’s economy great, he launched series of initiative or campaign called ‘Battles’.
In 1924, the first campaign was initiated. It was known as Battle over the Southern Problem.
In this campaign, he promised to build thousands of new villages in Sicily and the southern area of Italy. Also, intended to destroy the power of Mafia.

4. 2nd campaign
In 1925, much more serious campaign was initiated. It was called the ‘Battle for Grain’.
This campaign was created in order to solve the problem regarding to poor harvest and to increase in grain imports.
Mussolini wanted Italian farmer to grow more agricultural goods, in order to reduce the Italy’s dependence on foreign imports.
During the campaign, more land was made available for growing grain. And medals were rewarded to the most productive farmers.

5. 2nd campaign
Farmers started to grow more wheat instead of maize, and they became more mechanized during this time. There was increase in the use of tractor and fertilizers.
In the following year, 1926, saw a further attempt to increase the available farmland.
Marshes and swamps were drained, most notably the Pontine Marshes near Rome was completely changed into a farmland.

6. Battle for Lira
On 18 August 1926, the Battle for the Lira began when the Italian currency drastically dropped. In order to restore back its value abroad, and to increase Italian prestige, Lire was revalued.
This allowed Italy to continue importing coal and iron for weapons and ships.

7. Success or failure?
Most of Mussolini’s economic ‘battles’ were far from successful, often because they were fought inconsistently.
Battle over southern problem was not actually accomplished. Since nothing was actually built.
Battle for grain was somewhat successful but there was still a lot of problems to it.
It successfully doubled the amount of cereal production by 1939.
However, it also involved in misallocation of resource. This caused Italy to import olive oil, while export fruit and wine.

8. Success or failure?
The battle of the Lira which intended to raise the value of the Lira also resulted in declining exports, thus increased unemployment.
Italian goods were becoming more expensive, especially cars industry were badly hit.
This campaign caused recession in Italy and the economy got worse during the Great Depression.

9. The Institute per la Reconstruzione Industriale (IRI)
Was set up in 1933
Took over unprofitable industries on behalf of the state
1939
IRI became a massive state company controlling most of
Iron, steel, merchant shipping, the electrical industry and the telephones.
His intention was not to have them be permanently nationalized
Huge capitalist monopoly formed when parts were sold off to private owners

10. Autarchy in the 1930s
The depression led Mussolini to adopt protectionist measures in order to protect Italy as well as to push forward the fascist party
1935
Several countries with the League of Nations imposed economic sanctions on Italy after its invasion of Abyssinia
Mussolini involved Italy’s military more
The need for autarchy became stronger

11. The social impact of fascism
fascism was supposed to replace class conflict with class harmony
Should have
brought equal benefits to employers and employees
working in partnership for the good of the nation, the state and the Italian people
workers would no longer be exploited, and would enjoy an improved status under the corporate state.

12. Industrial workers
1922–1925
male workers experienced drop unemployment
improvement in living standards
cautious economic policies followed by Alberto de Stefani
but the economic revival in Europe in the early 1920s also contributed
1925–26,
workers lost their independent trade unions and their right to strike.
Instead of ending class confict, Mussolini’s fascist state only prevented workers from defending their interests,
while employers were able to manage their companies without the state or opposition from their employees.

13. Industrial workers
1939
it was clear that only a small minority had benefited significantly from fascist rule.
The standard of living declined under fascism.
Unemployment rose after the Great Depression
Workers were afraid of protesting about their working conditions for fear of losing their jobs
Some social welfare legislations were passed in the fascist era
the introduction of pensions, unemployment and health insurance.
Significant increase in education expenditure.
However, these improvements did not make up for the loss of wages and poor working conditions

14. Peasants and agricultural workers
the situation in rural areas became worse under the corporate state.
Mussolini’s policies clearly benefited large landowners but not small farmers and agricultural laborers.
1922
law was introduced to split the large estates and redistribute the land, but this was never acted on.
In an attempt to get out of poverty, many Italians emigrated.
Over 200,000 Italians moved to the USA in the period 1920–29.

15. The lower-middle classes
formed the backbone of the Fascist Party affected in different ways
small business owners were hit hard by the Depression and by Mussolini’s economic policies.
But, those who joined the administrative bureaucracy of the state or the Fascist Party had good wages and considerable benefits, they had the opportunity to increase their income through corrupt ways.

16. Industrialists and landowners
Large industrialists and landowners benefited most in fascist Italy
The Vidoni Pact of 1925 and the Charter of Labour of 1927 increased the power and freedom of employers, while stopping employies from fighting for their rights.
Even during the Depression, large farms benefited in many ways, either through government contracts or the IRI, which offered them financial assistance.

17. Women and families
Women were one of the groups that suffered most under the fascist party
Their status was consistently downgraded
Battle for Births, stressed the traditional role of women as housewives and mothers, and caused a downturn in employment opportunities for women
The Battle for Births was launched in 1927
In attempt to increase the Italian population to create a large future army
Mussolini aimed to increase the population from 40 million in 1927 to 60 million by 1950.
fascists encouraged early marriage, offered maternity benefits, persuaded women not to work, gave jobs to married fathers

18. Racism and anti-Semitism
Racism and anti-Semitism were notcharacteristics of the early fascist movement
there was a general racist in the fascists’ nationalism
Racism was evident in the Romanità movement
Mussolini believed that the Italian ‘race’ was superior to those African ‘races’ in Libya and Abyssinia.
1938 the newspaper Il Giornale d’Italia
Mussolini claimed that ‘prestige’ was needed to maintain an empire. This, required a clear ‘racial consciousness’ that established ideas of racial ‘superiority’.

19. The Church
Mussolini had the support of the Catholic church (for the most part)
Never showed his anti-religious side because many Italians were catholic
1921(before he was prime minister)
Mussolini presented the Fascist Party as an alternative to the anti-clerical liberals, the atheistic communists and socialists.
The Catholics were pleased by the fascists’ defeat of the socialists and communists, and saw benefits in ending the conflict between church and state.

20. ‘Fascistisation’ – education and indoctrination
The fascists were the only force that could unite all Italians and make their country great.
he believed the younger generation needed to be ‘fascistised’
Children started the day with a prayer that began, ‘I believe in the genius of Mussolini’
They were taught that Mussolini saved Italy from communist revolution
1929 teachers had to swear the ‘oath of loyalty’ to both the king and Mussolini’s fascist party.

21. Fascism and youth movements
Mussolini tried to indoctrinate young people by setting up youth organizations.
1926 fascist youth groups were made part of the Opera Nazionale Balilla (ONB).
In the organization it was organized by gender and age.
1937
ONB merged with the Young Fascists to form the Gioventù Italiana del Littorio (GIL), membership was made compulsory for all young people aged 8 to 21.

22. Thank you!