AskProfWolff: Mussolini: From Socialism to Fascism

A patron of Economic Update asks: "Professor Wolff, here is something that has been on my mind; Mussolini was originally a Marxist and internationalist socialist. How did Mussolini ideologically transition from socialism to fascism? Are there any ideological strains of Marxism that the fascists incorporated into their program? I'd be interested to hear your response."

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[Who-vtoh]

Thank god for Professor Wolff. He is one of the few speaking the truth.

[josephschaumberg]

Prof Wolff you are the best professor I’ve had. ThankYou!

[auferstandenausruinen]

Mussolini was just a typical opportunist in the socialist party of Italy. French and British Intelligence offered money during WWI for propaganda effort to dislodge Italian socialist party from its neutral stance of anti imperialist war and drag Italy into the Great War against the Germans (socdem parties in other states already did so and betrayed the workers). Mussolini disagreed with the neutral view of the party and got expelled. He happily took the money and did his nationalist propaganda job and became famous. After the war he thought he could somehow resolve class antagonism via a rule of the ironhand within Italy as long as he could find some land and people outside Italy to feed both the corporations and worker with enough exploited foreign labor, which formed the core value of the Italian fascist movement, i.e., internal corporatism and external expansionism.

[mm-rjvo]

Let's be a tad clearer, when a socialist "takes over the government" that can mean many many different things. It can mean centralizing power among a few people who are meant to "have worker's interests at heart" and implement laws that see to that end, OR decentralizing the governing powers of the state to smaller portions of society, while maintaining the overall existence of governing, while simultaneously eliminating the need for a centralized state. "Libertarian" socialism, or anarcho-communism, or Municipalism, or decratic confederalism, call it what you will BUT keep in mind that when socialism "takes over the government" what they're trying to do is give governing power BACK to the people, taking it from the oligarchs and plutocrats. I personally believe that it is this distinction which always gets moderates in a tizzy about "taking over government". Perhaps a different phrase should be used. "Giving governing power back to a more democractic system" "giving the government to the people" or "taking government back from the rich".

[MrxstGrssmnstMttckstPhlNelThot]

I see what you are saying happening, critics of neoliberal capitalism are arising and being listened to. But I see far fewer left-critics actually building movements than right ones and that's somewhat concerning. We seem to be approaching that Socialism Or Barbarism decision Rosa Luxemburg talked about over a century ago and a lot of people seem to be looking kindly at barbarism.

[jjetta]

This is a message that should be televised on major US (oligarchy) media.

[ParcelOfRogue]

I recall being told at school in the late 70's that Fascism came as a result of Capitalism under pressure. I could not see that at the time. The only fascists then were the National Front in England, a small bunch of racist, pro Empire, anti Europeans, with exaggerated characteristics from the working classes such as Skinheads with bover boots and braces, who used to throw bricks at me on the way home from the Grammar school in Loughton, Essex. They used to put political stickers on every lamp post in their little heartlands such as the Debden Estate, social housing for London East Enders bombed out of the nearby city, but rarely got more than 5% in parliamentary elections. But with UKIP in the UK and now the Brexit Party, the Brexit vote, Dominic Cummings, Bolsonaro, Johnson, Law & Justice (Poland) and Trump, we are in the stages of capitalism failing in present form at least and Pre-fascism in parts of Europe, S.America and USA. Fascism could happen but it is not certain and it is up to us TO BLOODY WELL STOP FASCISM FROM HAPPENING!

[sebg]

“You will never get rid of me because I am and always will be a socialist. You hate me because you still love me.” - Benito Mussolini, 1914

[garyesposito]

'Make Germany Great Again' Hat...priceless.

[matthewcondie]

I always enjoy the wise words from Professor Wolff.

[IzitAllGoUnder]

Prof. Wolff, great presentation as usual, you may need to think about having a person to monitor what appears to be a new influx of civil discussion disruptors.

[salj.]

So basically fascism is nationalist state capitalism?

[Naheed_Ahmed]

Mussolini as a socialist even his comrades had noticed that he was interested in advancing his own career rather than the cause of socialism.

The transition from Mussolini the socialist to Mussolini the fascist when capitalists and big business offered him money and he subsequently, used that money to break up organized strikes, unions and assault socialists and with the assistance of his fascist Blackshirt allies assault communists and socialists. Micheal Parenti in his book Blackshirts and Reds highlights what I've Just breifly explained in more depth and I cannot recommend it enough that you read the book.

[atticstattic]

“More than any other time in history, mankind faces a crossroads. One path leads to despair and utter hopelessness. The other, to total extinction. Let us pray we have the wisdom to choose correctly.”

― Woody Allen

[chitekwe]

People tend to forget that the money belongs to all the people. Not the government.

[jessicanoneyah]

If it's easier for capitalists to turn to fascism then socialism then it would seem fascism is here to stay in America. Depressing

[BruhWhyDidTheyChangeThis]

This is important because I got knocked tf out by someone who said socialism is in line with fascism and I knew the comeback for Germany, he took me sideways with Italy

[iversonmatthew]

If you ever stop doing these segments.. I will be very, very sad. It's a part of my routine. Thank you for your wisdom.

[thepeopleshistoryofus]

This means ORGANIZE, and do it soon! We don't have much time. Fascism consumes everything and everyone, I'm not down with that, so get organized. It's worth looking into DSA or I.W.W or other organizations.

[MartinIsRunning]

These videos are always fantastic. Like and share, people.